← back to
Ritmo&Blu Records
We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

supported by
Roberto Ferrara
Roberto Ferrara thumbnail
Andrea Bellucci
Andrea Bellucci thumbnail
/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Audio files 24/44.100
    Purchasable with gift card

      €12 EUR  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Includes unlimited streaming of Songs/Signs via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 4 days

      €15 EUR or more 

     

1.
Songs - Strings 03:49 video
2.
Songs - Sexual Terrorist feat. Laurie Amat 04:05
3.
Songs - Mi Sono feat. Gian Pietro Chiesa, Claude Voit 05:40
4.
Songs - Argonauts 04:34
5.
Songs - Religions 05:06
6.
Songs - WFY feat. Francesco Saviola 04:04
7.
Songs - Take Three feat. Markus Stockhausen 05:50
8.
Songs - La Fine Dei Giorni feat. Laurie Amat, Mimmo Impiombato 04:52
9.
Songs - Put It Away feat. Steve Piccolo 04:21
10.
Songs - Reprise 02:58
11.
Songs - Two Friends 02:26
12.
Signs - 01 01:41
13.
Signs - 02 02:35
14.
Signs - 03 02:34
15.
Signs - 04 01:56
16.
Signs - 05 03:21
17.
Signs - 06 06:21
18.
Signs - 07 02:07
19.
Signs - 08 04:34
20.
Signs - 09 feat. Laurie Amat, Agustina Mosca 02:04
21.
Signs - 10 feat. Stefano Moretti 02:08
22.
Signs - 11 feat. Laurie Amat 02:25
23.
Signs - 12 04:30
24.
Signs - 13 03:21
25.
Signs - 14 04:02
26.
Signs - 15 feat. Laurie Amat 01:08

about

About Flos and Flos Boards
Flos first bloomed in 2011 from the meeting of Stefano Castagna and Luca Formentini. The decision to work on a project of self-made instruments soon became the search for new composition processes that could facilitate improvisation, electronic treatment and the emission of unplugged, analogue and unconventional sounds. Flos Boards were built assembling strings, microphones, recycled materials (violin bows, pipes, pens, guitar pick-ups). They were wired to two computers for the elaboration and editing of the outcoming sounds.
Acoustic experimentation, electronic processing, improvisation and the research of new paths for music composition alike were then combined methods to achieve that same goal: to generate sounds that could bring the audience back to the mystic, the wonder and the well-being of interplayed, unusual live music.
Along the way came Flos' spontaneous collaboration with visual artists and painters that took the shape of installations as well as soundtracking for artists' videos.
As the gigs tended to multiply, it became clear that this Flos (from the Latin, flower, foam, vine buds, the end result of a spontaneous and natural generative energy) could bloom almost anywhere: the Venice Biennale 2014, the Lissone museum, exhibitions as well as private house concerts, musical festivals (Loop Festivals in Alicante in Spain, Lefkosia in Cyprus, Livorno and Castiglione delle Stiviere in Italy), site-specific concerts in Brescia and a music workshop in Siracusa.

About Songs/Signs
Despite the natural tendency of Flos to play in live improvisations, a double album collected their experiences at the studio Ritmo & Blu, produced and published by the in-house label of the same name (Ritmo&Blu Records).
The work had to gradually adapt to the new venue, possibilities and limits included: collaboration with vocalists and the addition of more traditional instruments (percussive, string) did not and could not alter, though, the improvising nature of the Flos project as it was laid down from the start.
The long work of collecting, selecting and producing the audio materials culminated in the 2019 publication of “Songs/Signs”, which was immediately held up due to contractual problems.
Now, in 2023, it finally appears in digital format, on double audio CD and collector's box with double CD and compact cassette.
“Songs” contains 11 tracks where the Flos Boards are tamed to speak the more popular language of the song, with the contribution of voices and instruments to the final texture. Outstanding guests such as Laurie Amat, Markus Stockhausen, Steve Piccolo e Claude Voit contributed to enrich the unique flux of Flos sounds with new harmonic solutions and sounds.
“Signs” includes improvisation work coming from the various sessions recorded through the years, rearranged and mixed so as to create an uninterrupted suite of 44 minutes, divided in 15 parts.

credits

released March 24, 2023

Music by Luca Formentini e Stefano Castagna, except
"Sexual Terrorist" by Stefano Castagna, Luca Formentini, Laurie Amat, Mary Baine Campbell
"Mi Sono" by Stefano Castagna, Luca Formentini, Claude Voit, Gian Pietro Chiesa
"Take Three" by Stefano Castagna, Luca Formentini, Markus Stockhausen
"Put it Away" by Stefano Castagna, Luca Formentini, Steve Piccolo

Stefano Castagna and Luca Formentini played: Tavole di Flos, Philicorda organ, electric bass, acoustic and electric guitars, Saucillator, Magic drainpipe, acoustic and electric piano, drums, Monotron, samples.
Laurie Amat voice on Sexual Terrorist, La Fine Dei Giorni and Signs part 9, 11, 15
Gian Pietro Chiesa voice on Mi Sono
Claude Voit acousticien guitar on Mi Sono
Francesco Saviola drums on WFY
Markus Stockhausen flugelhorn on Take three
Mimmo Impiombato drums on La Fine Dei Giorni
Steve Piccolo voice on Put It Away
Stefano Moretti live drums programming on Signs part 10
Painting by Lorenzo Castagna
Graphic design by TePo Studio

Recorded at Ritmo&Blu Studio, Pozzolengo (BS) Italy.
© 2023 by Stefano Castagna (SIAE) and Luca Formentini (SIAE).
Recorded and mixed by Stefano Castagna.

2023 Ritmo&Blu Records
2023 Ritmo&Blu Edizioni Musicali

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Flos / Luca Formentini - Stefano Castagna image

Flos / Luca Formentini - Stefano Castagna Italy

contact / help

Contact Flos / Luca Formentini - Stefano Castagna

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Songs/Signs, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Fabiana Palladino stops by to talk about her mesmeric debut LP.
listen now