Italian electronic music producer g-no has just released his first EP.  He writes "the mountains featured on the cover are from the area where I currently live and had a strong influence on the mood and sound of the album".  Isn't it incredible, the multitude of different ways we can be inspired to create!  I wasted no time in checking out this little collection of six new tunes.

‍

Track 1 "intro" kicks off the EP with a strong start, a pounding techno tune with all the right sounds and drops.  I loved the energy, and the filtered/phased breakdown where the raw synth gets a perfect deadmou5-like detune applied.  I felt the louder parts of the track could be lifted even further by the insertion of a well-chosen snare, but nonetheless enjoyed it.

‍

Track 2 "I" continues the energy level, with a techno/trance vibe sufficiently different to the previous track, keeping things interesting.  The filtered, arpeggiated chords that drift in reminded me of music made by musicians in the demoscene, which peaked in the 90s, before trance went on to the mainstream and started to chart.  (That reference is intended as a compliment!) .  Again, I did miss the presence of a snare drum, which was either absent, or so low in the mix it couldn't be heard.

‍

Track 3 "già isola" (translation: always an island) changes the pace, as it is more mellow by comparison.  It features electro breaks and some neat drum programming.  Plus, just for the middle of the track, there is a thundering return to a techno-esque pounding bassline and "four to the floor" kick, before calming down again. Nice.

‍

Track 4 "IV" returns to high-intensity techno, with a dark, mysterious, texture of sound.  There is lush breakdown two and half minutes in, but it only lasted for four bars.  I wanted it to linger for longer, giving those on the dancefloor more cool-off 'hands in the air' time, before building back up slowly to a crescendo.

‍

Track 5 "PST1" is - I think - my favourite of the six tracks here.  It starts with a fun ping-pong echoed guitar synth, whilst the bassline enters, rumbles, and repeats underneath.  There are excellent sound choices here, with trancey soundscapes, arpeggios, and riffs that drift in and out, building, and working well together.  

‍

Track 6 "trepoints" ends the EP rather differently.  Soft-rock met New Order and then teleported to the future from the 1980s!  Acoustic instruments, in the shape of layers of guitars, build and build, slowly.  The breakdown, when it arrives half way through the five minute song, is announced by a surprise (and well chosen) spoken voice sample, and lush, uplifting chords. I appreciated the 808 drum programming and subby bassline, too.  The track is enjoyable, as a piece of easy listening.  Does it fit with the other tracks? Not really. Does that matter? No, I don't think so.  For a final track, you can absolutely get away with doing something that your listeners aren’t expecting.

‍

Production standards are mostly very good, with the low-end balanced well.  As already mentioned, aspects of the drums are too low on some tracks, or would benefit from a solid snare or clap on beats 2 and 4 in the peaks.  It is perhaps mastered a little too quiet, compared with others in this genre.  But I prefer that to being over-cooked!

Overall, this is not groundbreaking, but still a promising start for budding producer, g-no. Any of the six tracks would go down really well when performed live at a local EMOM event, getting heads nodding and feet moving, for sure. And as a body of work, the EP is well sequenced, taking the listener on a defined sonic journey. If I had put this out as my first ever release, I would be very proud of it! Techno fans, support an independent artist and go listen and follow