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This nearly 60-minute, eight-track compilation collects old-school Berlin electronic music recorded by Italian synthesist Giuseppe “Baffo” Banfi between 1979 and 1982. Two of Banfi’s solo releases, “Ma, Dolce Vita” (1979) and “Hearth” (1981), were produced by Klaus Schulze. Remarkably, the latter would be Banfi’s only album to feature a rhythm section of guest musicians. Firmly rooted in, and clearly inspired by, classic cosmic electronic acts such as Ashra’s Manuel Göttsching, Tangerine Dream, and the aforementioned Klaus Schulze, Banfi delivers spacious, moody and occasionally cheerful cosmic synth music. Floating, often lyrical melodies and distinctive solo voices add further character to the material. There is plenty to enjoy here. The joyful, gently bouncing “Quelle Dolce Estate Sul Pianeta Venere” is particularly engaging, while “Astralunato” stands out with its intriguing vocoder passages. The undisputed highlight, however, is the epic 18-minute “Fantasia Di Un Pianeta Sconosciuto,” which provides an expansive and immersive journey through Banfi’s cosmic soundscapes where the hand of Mr Schulze can’t be missed. Unfortunately, the quality is far less consistent across the entire compilation. The positive vibe and musical inspiration largely apply to the first five tracks, while the final three are considerably weaker. They come across as uninspired and, in places, rather unpleasant, ultimately feeling somewhat out of place within the context of the preceding material. In 2023, remastered editions of Ma, Dolce Vita and Hearth were released together as a double CD on the MIG label, offering a more complete look at this intriguing chapter of Banfi’s electronic music. |
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