Alio Die

by Sean Cooper Since the late 80s, Stefano Musso has recorded deep, evocative experimental ambient and electro-acoustic soundscapes under the name Alio Die. Combining sweeping electronics with found sound and acoustical treatments which have echoed through the recent works of composers such as Robert Rich, Tetsu Inoue, and Brian Williams, Musso has assembled a rich and varied collection of recordings for such labels as Projekt, Timebase, Fathom, and his own Hic Sunt Leones label. Based in Milan, Musso studied art and electronic composition there, founding Alio Die in 1989 as a live performance act, and eventually self-releasing a debut, Under an Holy Ritual, in 1992. Enthusiastically received in his home country, Holy Ritual expanded Mussos international presence significantly in 1993 when it was licensed by the popular U.S.-based gothic/darkwave label Projekt. The connection brought a crossover audience to Mussos music, and — together with artists such as Asmus Tietchens, Vidna Obmana, Coil, and A Produce — helped ready ears for such mid-90s dark ambient/isolationist outfits as Lull, Final, Download, and Lustmord. Musso subsequently released three additional solo albums, including the first full-length — Suspended Feathers — issued by the celebrated, limited-run Amplexus label. A shadowy, cavernous, intensely detailed fusion of acoustical elements, step-and-repeat sample treatments, sparse, echoing percussion, and deep, atmospheric sound design, Suspended Feathers presented Musso at his very best, playing ambients static tendencies off of shifting melodic and textural passages that suggest movement without sacrificing the musics vague, entropic formlessness. In addition to full-length and compilation appearances, Musso has contributed to releases by Vidna Obmana and Steve Roach, and teamed up with Robert Rich in 1996 to record the full-length work Fissures for Stephen Hills Fathom label. More collaborative efforts appeared during the new millennium, including Echo Passage with Vidna Obmana in 2000, Apsaras one year later with Amelia Cuni, and Mei-Jyu in 2005 with Jack or Die.