re:fill: cycles
Francisco Espregueira
Following up on the Remixes EP released back in April, we now focus on Re:Fill’s original’s record entitled Cycles that just dropped last week via Cognitiva Records. The duo, consisting of Gaetano DeCarli and Stefano De Santis, has been creating a very own brand of jazz-electronica since their inception in 2020. They provide a deftly crafted blend of jazz laden polyrhythms and softly spoken melodic structures greatly admired for their ingenuity and dexterity. These textures compose the groovy Cycles project, containing five original tracks and three remixes by three extremely talented producers: Ben Hauke, SofaTalk and WheelUp.
Cycles is consistent in its wondrous unravelling of melody and rhythm, with each track opening up like a majestic flower in bloom, before grabbing the listener by both hands as the groove evolves with purpose and invention. The opener, “Impulse”, does just that, as densities shift perspective within the keys, creating a call and response feel with the drums merging superbly between expansive scapes and tight, concise funks. “Intemperance” is perhaps the most powerful track the duo have ever released, with a thick keyboard bass line permeating hard through swirling cosmic synths and heavy hitting drums, with plenty of density found within. “Atomism”, “Radiance” and “Stillness” are different beasts - their tone and form is slightly less explosive but the transitions are, once again, expertly pulled off by creative usage of instrumental shifts and percussive movements. Re:Fill deliver food for our souls with a leftfield visionary and futuristic jazz record. Available on vinyl.
“Rhythm ever present, melody rising and captivating, thirsting for the chance to wrap the listener around its little finger, a tantalising and ever entrancing meander through the possibility of complex percussion and heart warming keys….”