Even though I grow up listening mainly electronic music and I consider it my most favorite genre in all its forms. I must confess that in the last years I developed a fascination for musicians playing classic instruments with a personal approach, that's the case of Colin Stetson, for example, or Mario Batkovic, an accordion player I discovered some days ago. It amazes me when someone is able to puzzle my mind playing a classic instrument in a way I never expected... Bravo!!
Signed to Geoff Barrow‘s Invada Records label, Batkovic‘s music bridges both classical and contemporary experimental music – and it’s all crafted from one instrument, the accordion.
Drawing from minimalists like Philip Glass and the classical tradition, Mario Batkovic‘s self-titled album is a stunning show of technique and talent from someone who has a complete mastery of their chosen instrument. If you think you don’t like accordion music, think again.
“I chose the path of greatest resistance for my music voluntarily,” says Batkovic. “The album doesn’t want to submit itself to anything other than its sound. That’s the essence. Absolute submission to the sound. I’m the slave of the tones. I wanted all of the instruments breathing, air noises and the sounds of flapping of claps to be audible. So the handicaps of the accordion can be transformed into benefits, creating a new sound.”
Mario Batkovic by Mario Batkovic, published by Invada Records. Full streaming via thelineofbestfit.com.
