jonathan fitoussi: imaginary lines

Parisian producer Jonathan Fitoussi presents his debut album for Further Records, Imaginary Lines. Fitoussi finds inspiration from Rebecca Solnit's Storming The Gates Of Paradise: Landscapes For Politics (2007) and the concept of Harmony Of The Spheres to create six ravishing interstellar evocations. Referring to Solnit's work, Fitoussi states, "This idea that the constellations are an imaginary representation that man drew in the sky to serve as landmarks in space and on Earth is greatly appealing to me, and works very well with the story behind this album, on which each song title bears the name of a constellation," Fitoussi says. "With Imaginary Lines, I wanted to work with this idea as its core; on one hand geometrical and linear, like the shape of the constellations, characterized by the use of repetitive sequences, and on the other hand, through sections of improvised organ to evoke the more spiritual dimension." Imaginary Lines sounds like it was made with acute academic rigor yet it is also lavishly beautiful and sensuous. "I like having a mixture of a solid base to work from," Fitoussi says, "which is characterized here by a repetitive sequence, that leaves room for improvisation as well. This is something that recurs often in my work: creating a stable structure which then allows me to create spaces within it." To manifest Imaginary Lines, Fitoussi mainly employed an EMS Synthi AKS synthesizer and a Yamaha YC45D organ, which he processed through tape echo with two tape recorders. In addition, Fitoussi says, "many of the sounds were also fed back into a large metallic resonator (similar to the Ondes Martenot), which produced beautiful reverberations." "Aquarius" starts the album with its wind-chime and vibraphone-like pulsations reminiscent of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells (1973). "Triangulum" offers a Philip Glass-like repetition of lustrous synth chords. Subtle modulations and gradual intensification foster the sense that something momentous is about to happen - which it does with "Orion", whose brisk percolation and glassy tones recall Harmonia's Deluxe (1975), but shot into deep space. "Oiseau de Paradis" and "Andromede" evoke the feeling of effortless ascension through smooth, celestial oscillations, with the latter coming off as slightly more hectic, generating the illusion of pursuit. "Cassiopee" brings the album to a close with a more downcast, contemplative mood, with swirling tones and cyclical motif. Mastered by Rashad Becker at Dubplates & Mastering. 180 gram vinyl & reverse board jacket with insert.