GABRIEL FERRANDINI — Romance

Gabriel Ferrandini – Romance arrives on W.25TH as catalogue W25-22LP, a 12-inch vinyl that navigates the borderlands of drone, beats techno and ambient techno. The Portugal-based percussionist translates a career forged in free-jazz improvisation into a meticulously edited, almost cinematic soundscape, making the record a compelling statement of compositional depth within the label’s current output. Within the W.25TH catalogue, Romance follows the earlier releases Model Express by Cindy Lee (W25-09LP, 2025) and Sounds While Waiting by Ellen Arkbro (W25-15LP, 2023). Positioned after these explorations of experimental pop and minimalist ambience, Ferrandini’s record deepens the label’s commitment to boundary-pushing electronic music while retaining a distinct rhythmic focus. Side A opens with “1: Green Ray”, a track whose title hints at luminous refractions; its evolving texture sets a spacious tone that eases the listener into the record’s atmospheric world. “2: Crying Game” introduces strings and a grainy synthesiser that conjure a giallo-inflected dread, underscored by deep sub-bass rumblings that anchor the piece. The brief “3: Itacoatiara” acts as a connective interlude, preserving the ambient mood before the side’s centerpiece, “4: Afters Lisboa”. Here, cymbal crashes are routed through a Leslie speaker, producing a siren-like Doppler effect that expands the spatial field. The side closes with “5: Fallen Angels”, one of the few moments where Ferrandini’s untreated percussion emerges; layered reverb of varying lengths creates friction and a dissociative ambience reminiscent of early Autechre techniques. Side B continues the narrative with “6: Cova da Vaporwave”, highlighted by creative side-chaining, warbly VHS-like tones and drums amplified through a Fender Twin, gathering an apocalyptic momentum that feels both retro and forward-looking. The final track, “7: Growing Pains”, offers a reflective denouement, allowing the record’s spectral tones to settle after the preceding intensity. Romance situates Ferrandini within a lineage of avant-garde composers, echoing the chromatic dissonance of Renaissance figure Carlo Gesualdo while translating his own free-jazz roots into an electronic framework. The record’s seven tracks collectively expand the W.25TH aesthetic, reinforcing the label’s reputation for curating forward-thinking, texture-rich releases. For DJs, the record provides a suite of tracks that function as both deep-listening material and adaptable set pieces. “Afters Lisboa” and “Cova da Vaporwave” deliver evolving timbres suitable for long-form mixes, while “Crying Game” and “Fallen Angels” supply darker, bass-heavy moments that can punctuate a set’s climax. Collectors will appreciate the seamless blend of acoustic percussion and electronic manipulation, a hallmark of Ferrandini’s evolving compositional voice. The release is pressed as a 12-inch vinyl, matching the label’s standard format for its experimental output. The record’s physical presentation aligns with the tactile experience expected from W.25TH’s catalogue. Gabriel Ferrandini – Romance, W.25TH, catalogue W25-22LP, 12-inch vinyl, seven tracks. Tracklist: A1. Gabriel Ferrandini – 1: Green Ray 03:6 A2. Gabriel Ferrandini – 2: Crying Game 06:46 A3. Gabriel Ferrandini – 3: Itacoatiara 02:19 A4. Gabriel Ferrandini – 4: Afters Lisboa 05:59 A5. Gabriel Ferrandini – 5: Fallen Angels 03:7 A6. Gabriel Ferrandini – 6: Cova da Vaporwave 04:12 A7. Gabriel Ferrandini – 7: Growing Pains 05:52