Rating: 9/10 – EXCELLENT EP
FEELS: like you’re being taken to a distant, warm, beautiful planet in the multiverse
SOUNDS: celestial, other-worldly
Donato Dozzy’s EP ‘Magda’, released in January 2024, is a captivating blend of techno, ambient, and downtempo genres. The album, which is Dozzy’s first full-length release since 2019, comprises six tracks that are described as soothing, celestial electronic at its most human. This work is deeply personal, paying homage to his family and the Adriatic Sea. Tracks like “Magda” and “Le Chaser” are particularly noted for their blissful, serene qualities, conveying a sense of deep contentment and familial love, rather than the euphoria typically associated with club music. The album is characterized by glowing chords and cascading arpeggios, creating an intimate and emotionally resonant listening experience.
Other tracks, such as “Franca” and “Velluto”, create warm yet metallic soundscapes, reminiscent of Dozzy’s 2012 album “Voices From The Lake”. “Santa Cunegond”’, a ten-minute track, is highlighted for its epic narrative quality, starting with a stark, lunar-like landscape and transitioning into a mist of celestial pads and shakers. The album overall is seen as an exercise in beauty and serenity, reflecting Dozzy’s skill in crafting music that is more akin to a zen ritual than mere auditory entertainment.
The second half of the album takes a different approach, using audio to induce a trance-like state. The tracks employ synthesized atmospherics and steady percussion to immerse the listener into an underwater world, with ‘Franca’ and ‘Santa Cunegonda’ being particularly noted for this quality. The final track,”Lucrezia”, stands out for its lush pads, rubbery drums, and a vibrating bassline that creates an intoxicating effect. The album as a whole is seen as a continuation of Dozzy’s exploration of psychedelic and trance-inducing music, drawing parallels with the 1960s Summer of Love and a deep connection with nature. Check it out below and let us know your thoughts: