Lorenzo Fortino is at the heart of Italy’s electronic music presence in numerous ways. Known for his spirited sound and the South Florence record store, Isoma, Fortino is a devotee to dance music culture.
Here he returns with the sixth record on his own label, Futop Musica. True to his roots but unafraid of evolution, Fortino delivers an atmospheric four track EP exploring a number of moods and vast synthesis.
We zoom into the A-side, ‘Notte Di San Lorenzo’, a seven and a half minute track which captures the essence of Fortino’s ‘head music’ style—hypnotic, immersive and constantly evolving. Moods veer towards a trancey vibe, layering loopy synths onto a deep, driving beat gasping for a nice sound system.
The track opens with sparse, percussive textures—tight kicks, shuffling hi-hats, and a subtle layer of pads, all designed to lure the listener in. It’s not long before Fortino’s signature intricate sound design comes into play, with various elements unfolding and mutating over time. Much like his earlier works, this track is less about a climactic build and more about creating a continuous, immersive world.
‘Fusione Naturale’ provides another snippet into his mind with relentless loops more on a techno tip building a peak-time vibe before slowing things down significantly on the flip side. Both tracks on the B explore luscious atmospheres, placing subtle melodies into a sea of warm reverbs, ‘Valbura’ feels like a warm bath of synths.
Fortino’s decades of experience and devotion to electronic music comes through in this release, exploring a variety of moods with confidence. Sounds are crisp, clearly built with strong sound design which shapes his retro-futurist vision.
The label Futop Musica continues to be an outlet for his explorative approach to music, where each release stands as a testament to his ability to blur the lines between experimental and functional club music.
Buy the EP at juno.co.uk
More info on Futop Musica
Bandcamp | Instagram | Discogs
More info on Lorenzo Fortino
Website | Instagram | Discogs