Aucan

Hailing from Brescia, Italy, Aucan is an experimental avant-garde project that audibly transcends post-rock, ambient, IDM, and techno. Consisting of core members Francesco D’Abbraccio, Dario Dassenno, and Giovanni Ferligna, the trio came together in 2005 through a mutual appreciation of evocative and ethereal music that blends the organic with the electronic in the manner of Squarepusher and Battles. By 2007, the three musicians had amassed a number of sonic experiments between them and felt they were ready for their first release; they subsequently put out their first demo Source:code. The ensemble soon followed up with their first full-length effort. The eponymous album was released in 2008 via AfricanTape Records. The effort received an unexpected wave of positive attention for the project from critics and music fans alike. This response led to the first extensive tour for Aucan, which spanned 30 dates across many major European cities throughout 2009. Having started to establish themselves upon the alternative scene, they soon followed up with their third release, the DNA EP in 2010. The EP featured the track "Crisis," which many began to consider the definitive track of the band’s sound thus far due to its unwavering mix of sweltering dub bass and foreboding, frenzied noise rock -- it became a surefire staple of every live performance. 2011 saw the release of their second full-length effort, Black Rainbow. The album was largely anchored in their sound from past efforts while also displaying a much more layered and detailed production, comprising an intimidating mix of rock and dubstep. The album received widespread acclaim and the subsequent tour saw Aucan develop an ever-burgeoning fan base due to extensive touring and appearances at popular festivals such as Ferrara Sotto le Stelle and the Eurosonic Festival. The following year the band released a remix disc of Black Rainbow, which featured reworkings from English electronic noise artist Mick Harris, and Will Brooks of experimental hip-hop troupe D?lek. That same year saw the band open in support of Placebo and the Chemical Brothers. 2014’s EP1 saw the trio collaborate with genre-schizophrenic producer Otto Von Schirach. EP1 garnered attention for its eclectic mix of woozy, staggered hip-hop beats and dark techno, a slight departure from their earlier styles. Whereas their early material was anchored in math rock with elements of abrasive electro-punk, their sound morphed over the years, eventually segueing into an altogether new sound palette that consisted of magnetic, ethereal, and sweltering electronica. The latter was perfectly exemplified with 2015’s Stelle Fisse ("Fixed Stars"). By this point in their career, Aucan had expanded their arsenal of sound and begun to construct live shows that relied solely on use of varied hardware and assorted synths, with little room for digital manipulation. This approach of creating atmosphere with mostly drum machines, modular synths, and other pieces of electronic analog kit, bled into the mood and style of the Stelle Fisse recording sessions. The ultimate result was an album that existed in the hazy, strobe-drenched club dancefloors as well as dingy rock venues and open air festivals. The album was a success, garnering rave reviews across the U.K. and Europe. ~ Rob Wacey