PETRE INSPIRESCU Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Back in 2015, Petre Inspirescu popped up on Mule Musiq with Vin Pholie, an album considered a significant departure from his previous work. While he made his name with club-ready, heavily textured takes on tech-house and minimal techno, Vin Pholie saw him work with piano, strings and woodwind instruments for the first time, resulting in a set that sat somewhere between ambient and neo-classical. Vintul Prin Salcii, his belated follow-up, explores similar sonic territory, adding in vintage synthesizers and occasional nods to dub techno - see the becalmed pulse of "Miroslav 3" - to slightly broaden the approach. The result is a melodious sequence of musical movements that also doffs a sly wink to krautrock synthesizer pioneers as well as classical composers, American minimalists and ambient legends.

Review: Romanian minimal techno hero releases a solo album on Japan's Mule Musiq and what a moment in a brilliant career thus far. This guy is a true innovator and many are curious to hear what kind of journey into the deep and bizarre he can take us on. Starting out with the exotic bongo meditation of "Delir 1" and the breathtaking immersive ambience of "Delir 2" or the sinister and unsettling "Lumiere" things start to develop more movement later. Such as: on the deep hypnotic vibes of "Delir 4" or "Delir 6" which feature sombre string arrangements, emotive piano passages and some of the most expressive and restrained drums and percussion performances. Those expecting the ar:pi:ar sound be prepared, because it 'aint! A solid and contemplative body of work by a modern master in the making.