Draft:Luca Formentini

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Luca Formentini
Born1968 (age 56–57)
Brescia, Italy
GenresAmbient, experimental, electro-acoustic
Occupation(s)Composer, guitarist, sound artist, winemaker
Instrument(s)Guitar, electronics, voice
Years active1980s–present
LabelsExtreme, Curious Music, Subcontinental, Dark Companion
Websitewww.lucaformentini.com

Luca Formentini (born 1968, Brescia) is an Italian composer, guitarist, and sound artist known internationally for his work in ambient, experimental, and electro-acoustic music, with albums and performances reviewed by outlets such as Stars’ End, Psychedelic Baby Magazine, and ChainedLK.[1][2]

Biography

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Early life

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Formentini was born in Brescia in 1968. He began playing piano at age ten and switched to guitar at fourteen.[3] By the late 1980s, he was performing in Brescia’s underground and new wave scene.[4]

Solo career

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Formentini’s debut solo album, Subterraneans (2003), was described by the ambient music program Stars’ End [5] as “takes his instrument beyond what it was designed to do” noting his interest for an experimental use of guitar textures. Scaruffi is also referring to his characteristic blend of music roots: "Formentini's post-ambient soundscapes have little in common with the guitar meditations of contemporary avantgarde guitarists. On the other hand, their proto-linguistic structures evoke the similarly linguistically-impaired musique concrete of Pierre Schaeffer and Pierre Henry." [6]

This was followed by Tacet (2007) of which Textura says: "one of those virtuosi who is more intent on exploring the textural possibilities his instrument offers rather than crafting the perfect solo..." [7]. The Australian Cyclic Defrost about Tacet: "is a distinctive guitar player, decidedly more interested in the evocative potential of sound rather than the virtuosity of playing." [8] Tacet hosts guests as Markus Stockhausen, Steve Jansen, Deborah Walker, Steve Lawson and Frank Moreno.

His 2018 release, Scintilla, received coverage for its combination of ambient guitar work and environmental sound design.[9]

On a slightly different plan is "Art Spaces Vol1" (2020), an album of ambient sounds recorded in contemporary art museums, offering a sonic exploration of art environments such as NYC MoMA and Guggenheim and TATE Modern in London.[10]

In 2021, his album Intra- was noted by Psychedelic Baby Magazine for its “multi layered vision offers spread points of connection to the listener’s emotional states.” [11]

In 2024, he released four consecutive EP's titled I Am Ghosts, with an expanded immersive edition titled Box of Ghosts where the four EP's are collected on a double vinyl published by Curious Music. [12]

Musical style and philosophy

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Dublab describes his style as "Blurring boundaries between genres, Luca Formentini traces pathways between fragility and intensity, where spirituality, abstraction, and deep listening converge." [13] In his bio Allmusic describes him as "Composer and sound artist Luca Formentini's atmospheric aural landscapes are built from components such as guitar, strings, and homemade instruments (wood, metal, electronic) as well as voice and field recordings." [14] In a 15 Questions interview, Formentini described silence as “not a passive state… it requires will and action,” reflecting his emphasis on space and dynamics in composition.[15]

Collaborations

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Formentini has worked with musicians including Holger Czukay, Markus Stockhausen, Robert Rich, and Steve Jansen.[4] His collaboration with Robert Rich on For Sundays When It Rains (2022) was described by *Stars’ End* as offering “intimate moods and atmospheric depth.”[16] His 2024 collaboration Cloud Ornament with Robert Rich was described by *Stars’ End* as “haunting, free-floating and difficult to interpret,” with Formentini’s guitar providing “breezy sensuality.”[17] A review on ChainedLK highlighted his “minimalist, occasionally hesitant guitar… adding an element of vulnerability that modern ambient music rarely dares to express.”[18]

Installations and environmental engagement

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Formentini has created site-specific sound installations for galleries and public spaces, with presentations at events such as the Venice Biennale.[4] He is also active as a winemaker in the Lake Garda area, integrating ecological principles into his artistic work.[19]

Discography

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Solo albums

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  • Subterraneans (2003)[20]
  • Tacet (2007)[20]
  • Scintilla (2018)[20]
  • Art Spaces Vol. 1 (2020)[20]
  • Intra- (2021)[20]
  • I Am Ghosts (2024)[20]

Collaborations and ensembles

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  • 2005 - Deep Ocean Inside – Isn't (Sublime Label – Italy)
  • 2008 - Flowers of Now with Markus Stockhausen, Tara Bouman, Deborah Walker, Vera Fischer (21st records – Italy)
  • 2014 - Il Sogno Bianco – Flos (Segesto Invenzioni - Ritmo & Blu – Italy)
  • 2015 - The Eyes – Sender+Flos (BaconAnDecks records – Germany)
  • 2019 - Songs/Signs – Flos (Audiobulb records – Ritmo & Blu – UK/Italy)
  • 2022 - For Sundays When It Rains - with Robert Rich (Soundscape Productions – USA)
  • 2023 - Rêverie - with Markus Stockhausen (Dark Companion Records – Italy)[21]
  • 2024 - Cloud Ornament - with Robert Rich (Soundscape Productions – USA)
  • 2025 - Shaping Colours - LLL - with Luca Calabrese and Lorenzo Feliciati (Iapetus - Germany)

Collaborations as a musician

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  • 2002 - Linear City – Holger Czukay (Revisited Records - Germany)
  • 2005 - An Impulse of Acoustic – Sunao Inami (Electr-Ohm - Japan)
  • 2007 - 21st Century – Holger Czukay (Revisited Records - Germany)
  • 2010 - Phoenix – Angela Kinczly (Segesto Invenzioni – Italy)
  • 2013 - La visita – Angela Kinczly (QBL – Italy)
  • 2017 - 10 Tumbleweeds – Piero Chianura (Apparèmment Des Notes – Italy)

Compilations

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  • 2000 - Ambitative vol. 1 (CT-Collective - USA)
  • 2000 - Philter Phrenzy (CT-Collective - USA)
  • 2001 - State of the Union (Electronic Music Foundation - USA)
  • 2001 - Locations vol. 1 (CT-Collective - USA)
  • 2004 - Cue One (CUE Records, Japan)
  • 2005 - Beyond the Darkness (Oltre Il Suono - Italy)
  • 2005 - Village of the Unfretted
  • 2009 - Zaum vol.1 (Psychonavigation Records - Ireland)
  • 2013 - 121212 (Looper's Delight - USA)
  • 2021 - The Wire Tapper 56 (Wire Magazine - UK)
  • 2023 - Brixia Sonora (Rebirth - Italy)

References

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  1. ^ "'Molecules' by Luca Formentini". Psychedelic Baby Magazine. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Subterraneans". Stars' End. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  3. ^ "About Luca Formentini". Apple Music. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Luca Formentini". Extreme Music. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Luca Formentini". Starsend. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Luca Formentini". Scaruffi. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Luca Formentini". Textura. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Luca Formentini" (PDF). Cyclic Defrost. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Luca Formentini". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Art Spaces Vol1". ChainedLK. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Luca Formentini". Psychedelicbabymag. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  12. ^ "Luca Formentini Announces Experimental Album "I Am Ghosts"". KLOF Magazine. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  13. ^ "Guest session of Luca Formentini".
  14. ^ "Biography of Luca Formentini". Allmusic. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  15. ^ "Interview with Luca Formentini". 15 Questions. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  16. ^ "For Sundays When It Rains". Stars' End. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  17. ^ "Cloud Ornament review". Stars' End. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  18. ^ "Robert Rich & Luca Formentini: Cloud Ornament". ChainedLK. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  19. ^ "Luca Formentini: The Musical Soul of Lugana Wine". Palate Press. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  20. ^ a b c d e f "Luca Formentini discography". Discogs. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  21. ^ "Dark Companion Records". Dark Companion Records. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
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