Caterina Barbieri
Ecstatic Computation
Four albums deep and Caterina Barbieri is entering a higher plane of artistry. Always regarded as a contemporary master, her skills as both a composer and performer have reached a sweet spot resulting in the album ‘Ecstatic Computation’. Her ability to weave together layer upon layer of emotionally-charged modular synthesiser arrangements in such a way that it penetrates into your mainframe and triggers all manner of unexplored emotional terrain is astounding. Take 10-minute+ opener ‘Fantas’ for example, delicate yet driving, tantalising your aural network with cascades of synth and high-pitched melodies that give you goosebumps and a sense of wonder permeating from start to finish – a real fantasy. The rest of the album follows in a similar vein, rich, dreamy and transcendent.