Description
Release date: April 11th 2025
Label: Slow Motion Records
Palermo’s Rokko debuts on Slow Motion Records with his Giallo-infused, electro-industrial giant, ‘Manifesto Futurista’, where shimmering flashes from the past merge with the resonance of the present. As an intrinsic part of the islands’ satiating nightlife, Rokko’s 5-track EP paints a visceral picture of this ever-giving scene, allowing listeners to stumble into his captivating world.
The record opens with the evocative industrial track ‘Last Meeting’. Militant percussion punches through hazy melodics, anchored by rasps and cries of chiming machine-led arpeggios. Ghostly synthesised vocals and closely held and dynamic cymbals give ‘Last Meeting’ its anguish-filled edge. An unashamedly proto-driven bassline kicks things into gear, giving each element another lease of life as the track unfolds.
The title track ‘Manifesto Futurista’ fastens listeners into the passenger seat. Tasteful nods to synth-wave are met with Rokko’s unmistakable bass tone and forward-thinking enigmatic melodics. The harnessed unpredictability of oscillators crying out creates a moorish energy. Distant Tremors hum throughout, compounding the tension to be released after the energetic build. ‘Kill Bill’ switches its head to turn of the 21st century synthpop and defined electro instrumentation. Each element beautifully sits in its chosen space. The percussion’s live character gives ‘Kill Bill’ the tongue and cheek approachability of the early 2000s electro, allowing the synth hooks’ charm to shine.
‘Davide & Golia’ combines unstoppable primal rhythms and organic life to synths that chirp across the soundscape. Echoing the theme of the track’s title, the low end is heavy, and the highs are delicate, with each chapter marching into the other. Charged with all the spirit of those before it ‘Promessa’ closes the record in the anthemic style, rising with the pulsating synth stabs and atmospheric FM swells. Rich in the sonic attributes of the early 2000s, Rokko creates an eloquent snapshot of an innovative mind, with each track providing a unique pillar for his manifesto of the future, culminating in a welcomed breath of fresh air that is a testament to his masterful ear.
