With Thauma, Italian-born, London-based producer Andrea Bonalumi (also known as Andrea Ottomani) drops his debut full-length effort under the Big Hands name. Drawing from the experimental end of techno, he weaves sonic tapestries from gradually evolving synth work, field recordings and found sounds as well as live elements and some powerful guest features. His intricate and emotive compositions fit neatly into the oeuvre of Toronto-based Marionette records. Thauma exists at the boundary of the synthetic and the natural. Often drawing on speech samples and intriguing found sounds, the record deals both in abstraction and raw humanity.
Opener »The Armed Joy (For Alfredo)« marries spoken word that touches upon beauty, joy and the appreciation of life with gently cycling synth lines and watery effects in a highly impactful way. Bonalumi has a clear flair for intriguing and immersive compositions, but he is also a great collaborator. The guest spots on this record add depth and sonic versatility to the album.
The gorgeous and mysterious »Fuoco Lento« features trumpeter Abraham Parker, credited here as part of Ottomani Parker, the duo he has with Big Hands. The cut also features Palestinian vocalist and sound artist Bint Mbareh, whose vocals also adorn album centrepiece »A Juniper Tree Whose Roots Are Made of Fire«. Tenor sax is lent to a couple of tracks by Buster Woodruff-Bryant, adding more jazzy flair to this versatile album. With Thauma, Big Hands has delivered a wide-ranging and satisfying set that opens up intriguing and tantalising possibilities for the future.
Thauma
