Best known for his one-man Nosound band, Italian multi-instrumentalist Giancarlo Erra also has released two quietly compelling instrumental solo albums comprised of contemporary classical/minimalist and electronic music. While 2019’s Ends -- I-VII was an attempt to remind Erra that “each end is in actuality the possible start for something new,” Departure Tapes addresses how the time he spent taking care of his father before his death from cancer helped heal their tumultuous father-son relationship. Erra dedicated the album to his dad and wrote this in the liner notes: "It was a rough and bumpy ride for the two of us, but it was well worth it.”
With that backdrop, it’s easy to understand why 2021’s Departure Tapes is more experimental and introspective than Ends -- I-VII. The six tracks here range in length from less than two minutes (“Previous Tape”) to almost 17 minutes (“Departure Tape”), reflecting the emotional unpredictability of love and grief. Erra handles piano, synthesizers, electronics and programming, while Elis Marteinsson provides occasional string accompaniment.
In the end, this is both a dark and joyous listen -- a sonic exploration of the soul, a tragedy with a happy ending -- one that should be approached with reverence.
Track Listing:
1. Dawn Tape
2. Previous Tape
3. 169th Tape
4. Unwound Tape
5. Departure Tape
6. A Blues For My Father
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