Un Fiocco Di Neve is an often jarring, unpredictable though at points rather haunting album that mixes lulling and moody piano playing, minimal electro texturing, improv-based sound-making, and a good amount of space/silence. Here from the Italian label, 901 Editions is a CD/ digital download release that appeared in March of this year.

The release comes presented in a six-panel mini gatefold- on its outside we find hazed/ ill-defined black illustrations against a white background. And inside seemingly random white texts against a black back and two lines of random black numbers on a white background. The whole thing is finished off with a monochrome booklet- taking in handwritten Japanese writing, an empty traditional Japanese tea room, and a selection of abstract monochrome pictures. This nicely adds to the abstract/ random feel of the material within.

The album is made up of seven tracks- and these have runtimes between eight and ten minutes, with their titles been their running times. Though that said the spaced-out/ silence broken quality of the album, means it really plays more like one long work of sonic miniatures. I won’t go onto detail every track lay-out/ development- because that won’t be particularly interesting to read, and it would rather be spoiling the darting surprise/ shift of the whole thing. So instead, I’ll mention a few present favourite points on the album- though that said the whole thing is fairly compelling/ rewarding, you just have to get used to the use of space/ silence. 

So, the first track "7’30" after its blend of grating hiss, light sear, and textural dart moves into an even/ though short blend of haunting tolling piano notation, and looped electro ball roll.  On track number three "9’23", at around the 3.50 mark, we have this wonderful airy and rising ambient tone, which is full of bright light hover and warming grace. At around a minute and a bit into the last track  "10’52" we get this intriguing blend of distant bell tone hits, muffled hiss and flick, topped with a more pronounced dragging textures. Also, on this final track around the 5.30 mark we have a decidedly creepy blend of darting haunted house piano and its reverb, with elements of eerier improv drag, flick and electro-pop appearing.

Un Fiocco Di Neve is very much of an intriguing puzzle of an album, which is primmed perfect for those moments when you want something sparse-yet-eventful to listen to. It’s certainly an album you have to take your time & patience with, but if you hang in there through the spaces/ silence you’ll find a lot of the most rewarding sound detail to enjoy. To pick up a copy of the CD direct head here.