Hippies With Gadgets
Peak Records
Heady phasers shift from left to right across the stereo experience in atmospheric and vibrant slow waves before a tribal drum beat christens the music with an idea of scope and direction. Organic rhythms are soon accompanied by birdsong as the droning ambience swells with distant thunder and shimmering sounds. Some technology pokes its head through the haze and some flow is added to the soundscape, contouring melodic slow dances of intent around the repeating and relaxing percussion drift their way into a progressive tribal trance.
The fusion of ethnic elements with electro synthetic experimental waveforms makes the music sparkle with a dualism that is well balanced and interesting. A moment to allow the body to adjust to the pace is recommended, the evolution of sound is distinct yet undramatic, leaving us as listeners to absorb the motion of the compositional journey bar by bar. Better to not try and second guess or predict what is coming next, as the array of effects and frills to hand simply are astonishing. Nothing is left to fill the gaps, everything is made for where it is.
Master Margherita resembles“a deep, purple, velvet sea”, according to his website, which to me suggests he may have grown up on a bit of the Purple. Although nothing like Smoke on the Water, the music of the double M does remind me of how it would actually look. An ethereal quality of magic and subtle ghostly charm reverberate around the productions.
As an actively performing musician, Margherita has utilised his digital instruments to do a bit of multi-tasking. He generously uploads regular podcasts of his performances, which can be downloaded from here. The album Hippies with Gadgets is a laid back summer groove that can satisfy the room quite easily. It's like a day at the seaside, with a bit of spending money and plenty of good looking people to talk to. A blissed out sound affair with a twist of salted lemon.