ONQ

The Supreme Weight

CD-R, OuZel

For years Luca Galuppini has been making music, the bigger part in solo-projects. A long time ago there were grindcore-bands, noise-projects, tape-productions, straight edge, pure noise, and lots more, leaving aside internet-pages and related stuff. A winding road leading through many, very diverse stations. Now ONQ seems to be his main obsession and is described by himself as “regular and melodic songs played with a retuned undistorted guitar and effected voice.” That might be true, but doesn’t fit at all. This short description just doesn’t grasp the beauty and fragility of the soundscapes and atmospheres woven into these songs.

For ONQs last release, “The supreme weight” Luca took other people along for the ride: Mauro Costagli, who is usually doing OuZel-Records (check the compilation) and playing with Morose and The colours seen from behind (collaborations with ONQ planned), plays drums on every track, which is certainly an improvement. Adding time and structure to the songs, giving the whole piece more of that “band-feeling”, which in addition to the synth-scapes and melancholic guitar-chords reminds me of the very early Pink Floyd from time to time. I had this association already with the first song “Laugh like a clown”. Please remember, I am wellknown for my associations. Mostly because nobody except for me understands them. Need an example? Okay – some of the songs reminded me of The Mission. But in a good way. I mean the manner the acoustic guitar shapes the songs in connection to the slightly sad, melancholic and overall weary feeling of the songs. Understand that? Thought so. Listen to the title track of this CDR and maybe you’ll understand me. And keep in mind, that I haven’t heard a single note by the Mission for at least eight years or so.

This is all one big family, actually. Some would call it a network of like-minded people, helping each other out and supporting each other in all means necessary. See, the connection ONQ – OuZel – Dhyana-Records is easy to find out. These underground-networks are an interesting thing to explore. You start at one edge and keep moving, buying records, corresponding with people, getting stuff, sending stuff. From time to time you’ll reach a dead end or a crossway you have stood on many times before. But this is always fun. You check the names and locations on the records to find cross-connections until you feel at home. A good feeling, even though I rather keep from getting to personal (except with a few chosen, worthy people). The last few weeks I have been feeling this damp pressure on my chest, which makes me very pensive and moody. “The supreme weight” is a good soundtrack for feeling that way.

I wonder, if ONQ will keep this formula of more “band-oriented” songs. I’d prefer that, but who I am to make suggestions to anybody. Even if Luca Galuppini uses this network he moves in, asking people here and there to join in, it will make the project a lot more interesting than it was before. Both for himself and for us / me as listeners. These ten songs here are proof enough for me.

The last track on this is a surprise though. A brass band called Fartfara (no good name in English, by the way) joins in and does a beautiful, slightly swaggering Circus Music / Uptown Horns (best known for their contributions on the Tom Wait’s-album “Rain dogs”) number. This one really takes this album to another level. Great closure, the curtains fall, everyone is satisfied.