Mit “Hart’s Tongue” erscheint in Kürze ein neuer Longplayer des in Südengland ansässigen Komponisten und Producers S. Costa auf Cruel Nature Records – ein Werk, das zwischen spielerischer Leichtigkeit und dramatischer Wucht oszilliert. Jeder der meist synthiedominierten, aber auch klassische “akustische” Instrumentierung beinhaltenden Tracks hat seinen eigenen stilistischen und atmosphärischen Charakter, wodurch das Album wie ein Geflecht aus Spiegelungen, Kontrasten und unerwarteten Wendungen wirkt. Monumentale, z.T. dramatische Abschnitte treffen auf polyrhythmische Dynamiken und verspielte Passagen mit fast körperlich wirkenden, blubbernden Sequenzen auf. Costa, der seine musikalische Sprache zunächst an der Gitarre entwickelte und seit 2020 mit Schwerpunkt auf Synthese arbeitet, entwirft Stücke, die unberechenbar und doch melodisch sind – mal mit (nur gefühlten?) Anklängen an Exotica oder weltmusikalische Motive, mal in entrückter Verzückung, mal in energisch-dramatischer Zuspitzung. “Hart’s Tongue” erscheint am 26. September mit Artwork und Design von Callum Rooney als Tape und zum Download. 

“Hart’s Tongue is an album of puzzles, mirror images and juxtaposition, punctuated by moments of restlessness and calm. A psychogeographic exploration of birth and new life, discovery, and what it means to belong in a place, Hart’s Tongue sees Somerset-based composer and producer S.Costa expand on the sonic palette of his earlier work, with a new album written with Buchla Music Easel, Prophet 5 and woodwind. The monumental album opener ‘Lilac’ sets the tone. Dizzying ascending arpeggios open into numerous sonic detours before building to a catharsis, anchored in the rhythm of the in utero heartbeat of the composer’s child. Other pieces take the theme of birth and new life in more playful directions. The crystalline flutters of ‘Yolk’ contrast with the almost bodily burbles and squelches of ‘Truth Home’. ‘Collage’ offers a momentary change in direction as the only piece not recorded in Costa’s home studio in Somerset. As Costa recalls: “I recorded Collage in a single take at VSM in LA. It was a morning session, and when I arrived all the equipment had only just been turned on. I immediately started playing their ancient Prophet 5 and this is what came out. Analogue synthesisers, especially old ones, take time to warm up. I love that in this performance you can hear the instrument start to come alive. It’s unstable and unpredictable, and you can hear the electricity crackling on the old circuits.” Side B opens with ‘Moss Gathering’ and brings us back to the shady woodland of Somerset. The hyperactive polyrhythms of the opening section give way to a transcendent moment of calm that recalls the dappled sunlight finding the forest floor. The expansive album closer ‘Daughter’ evokes an elusive sort of nostalgia. A soaring Easel melody gives way to a Riley-esque improvisation, which gives way to an understated piano refrain, the album’s gentlest moment. It takes us back to where we began, only where we were previously looking forward, we are now looking back. S.Costa is a composer of restless experimental music, crafting sonic puzzles through electronic sound. He creates deliberately unpredictable yet melodic compositions that refuse to settle into familiar patterns. Working primarily with Buchla Music Easel, Costa builds compositions that seem to breathe and shift of their own accord. His pieces create illusions of an ensemble playing, conjuring imaginary musicians in impossible spaces before dissolving these fabrications through constant motion. Costa began a transition from guitar to synthesis during the pandemic in 2020, mentored by American experimentalist Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith. This shift from collaborative musician to a solo practice informs his fascination with creating – and dismantling – the sensation of shared musical space. His debut album The Radiant Point (2023) established his voice within experimental music, and releases on touchtheplants (US), re:natura and helloworld.live (Berlin) have followed. S.Costa is based in the southwest of England”. (Cruel Nature)