Unconvert cover (2021).

Indonesian techno musician Ecilo expresses his poetics between some enlightening percussive sounds (an example is the album Life Recycle of 2008, which was produced by French label Metrohm) and a dark feeling of the last years. This time, Ecilo published for New Yorker Axis Records and the associated Escape Velocity (which directs the Escape Velocity Magazine) Unconvert, with futuristic, claustrophobic sonorities. The dancefloor style is the background of this electronic record, where a dystopian technology overruns to the rhythms and minimal melodies, with an elastic approach which characterizes his music. (At the moment, it’s possible to listen to Unconvert if it is purchased to this link).

Following there is a little interview to Ecilo, about his music, its past, present and future.

Actually, I’m not really into electronica in a proper sense, we can say not in a mainstream way. Sometimes I shy away from clubbing music, for example ordinary techno or house genres. But, leaving aside my daily listening, I have found different and interesting aspects in your techno music, although it is permeated by an attitude which makes that sounds more glossy and recurring. There is an oscillation around a equilibrium position, where those grown-ups are enriched of something baroque and complexly geometric on that rhythmic cadence. I wonder where came from that sound naturally brilliant. Moreover do you listen or get into other musical genres?

“Yes, that’s right, I listen so many genre, especially Jazz, Soul, Classic, and world music.”

Surely what characterizes Unconvert, your new album, is a spacey and multifaceted sound, but realized in a more squared and creative style. What I like of Unconvert is its architecture; something under the bond of periodicity but with a complete creative freedom of rhythmic patterns. Moreover I feel, in a certain sense, there is a game with liquid and malleable sonorities, through an abstract exercise with oil and canvas. Can you speak about this consistency of sounds? Where did these ones come from?

“Actually the process of Uncovert album is so interesting for me. I jam with the tools I have without knowing which boundaries are digital and which are analog. I record all my hours in a week to try to see the best aspects of jamming. Come to conclusion the Uncovert album.”

Ecilo.

Dancefloor element can be listened not indifferently, even if Unconvert, as we say before, offers something more heterodox in my opinion. And the above-mentioned dimension is less relevant through a meditated listening, but intended to euphoria of club world, in every way. But who is directed that listening to?

“Actually my main market is people who like and play techno.”

The next release, White Lane, is more different and moves around a homogeneous and deeper balance in a dancefloor way. The sounds are more periodic and we can feel the sensation to be in a real club. Can you talk about this passage?

“I always make a difference when I make EPs and make albums. When I made the EP I tried to make a formula about catchy and attention. Albums for me are more personal.”

At the end, can you speak about the next news, or if you are working on any future releases?

“Right now, I’m focusing new album on Axis records.”