Lorenzo Senni - Canone Infinito Xtended

Album

10 Jun

A masterclass in minimalism, Lorenzo Senni's Canone Infinito Xtended (2025) pushes beyond electronics and into a contemporary space usually occupied by the modern classical crowd. Surrendering yourself to Senni's entrancing melody leaves you with a sense of grief and unfamiliarity that doesn't align itself with a feeling of loss but with the acceptance of change. I would rationalise a large part of Canone Infinito Xtended's themes as the early morning haze that signals a new day - with a new day comes relief that you've made it, but also an apprehension of what's to come.

These themes are prominently touched on throughout, with 'Trapped in an Oil Painting' utilising plonky tones accented by soft, traditional piano, allowing for contrast to build within the piece and echoing the pointillist style. Elements of humanity are given life through a somewhat alien lens of dots and colour. The opener, 'Andromeda A6 Interplay', follows a similar structure. However, the less prominent positioning of acoustic keys under frightfully harsh synthesised notes adds a gravitas and intensity that burst onto the scene. The piano sits in the back while the lead takes on most of the heavy lifting. Notes shift from gritty bass to shimmering and delicate, which adds depth to the texture as it relies on the modulation of tone rather than melody. It's only when we come to 'XEurekaX Demo' that we see the extent to which Senni will push the boundaries of beauty. The squeaky melodics of 'XEurekaX Demo' operate within a set of carefully considered artistic parameters, keeping the output bound while allowing creativity to flow into wayward realms. The beautiful call and response allow the aggressive, synthesised melody to be softened slightly with radiant pops of silky colour, which soften the track. Notes of elegance and beauty remain, but only when viewed up close, do you see a more abrasive building block.

Senni's emotional fever pitch comes to a head on the neon trance-laden expressions on 'Minimalism on Steroids'. The wickedly sharp, brassy and vibrant stabs that play the central pulse have no right to be as good as they are. You are situated in this perpetual state of rising tension, forever waiting for a resolution that won't come. The genius lies in the contrast between the melodic minor and major, leaving you emotionally torn. It's a beautiful metaphor for the uncanniness of pointillism. Much like 'Minimalism on Steroids', 'The Romantics were Prompted' to tap into the dramatics of their predecessors. The track is more subdued, but its elongated melodies evoke a more nuanced emotional response. We find ourselves more able to apply context to this track; it has a cooling quality perfect for a scorching summer walk on the borders of civilisation. Somewhere, we can see a city, but are unable to interact with it. It fills us with the idea that pointillism still rings true, only this time, it's a conversation on the beauty between the darts, the space between ourselves and someone else, that could lead to more impactful relationships. Lorenzo Senni is, without a doubt, an asset to the Warp Records institution, with Canone Infinito Xtended feeling aligned with artists like Catarina Barbari and Barker, who use loops and melody to explore synthesis with purpose and flair.

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