Bruno Karnel - "Villa Solitude"

 

Coming Soon:

Villa Solitude by Bruno Karnel: An Exploration of Sound

 
Mark your calendars! Returning to the scene, French multi-instrumentalist Bruno Karnel is prepared to take us on a journey with his new album, Villa Solitude, which will be released on March 14, 2025. Released under the Bitume Productions label, it’s an emotional soundscape that mingles loneliness with glimmers of hope.
 
Imagine wandering through haunting urban landscapes, fueled by a blend of post-rock, pop, prog, post-punk, and metal. That’s the essence of Karnel’s art. His music feels like a stroll through your mind’s eye—it’s both personal and atmospheric. From fictitious towns, like "Leaving Diaspar," to desolate war-torn cities in "Candlelight City," each track tells a story of both isolation and collective presence. It’s as if the shadows of the notes beckon: there’s always something lurking just out of sight.
 
This third album follows up on Las Ilusiones (2021) and Hic sunt dracones (2023), continuing Karnel's exploration of the human experience through sound. It features eight tracks that dance between the melancholy of solitude and the light of hope. If you think about it, isn’t that what life is all about? A constant ebb and flow?
 

An intriguing fact is that Villa Solitude represents a change in Karnel's sound, becoming more vintage and instrumental than his earlier compositions. Karnel is fusing new sounds with the remnants of the past, drawing inspiration from the underground music scenes of Central and Eastern Europe (think Kauan, A Noend of Mine, and Molchat Doma). The first track from the album, "Heliopolis," is currently available for listening on all platforms, and you can already feel the excitement growing.
 
 
Let's now examine who is responsible for making this musical vision a reality. The CD, which was recorded and mixed at Marg'Sound Studio by the gifted Florent Morel, features a stellar roster of guest musicians in addition to Basile Combes's thunderous drumming. Karnel's musical tapestry is enhanced by the distinct contributions of Matthieu Gajewski on bass, Polina Faustova's dreamy cello skills, and the always captivating Artem Litovchenko.
 
A preview of the tracklist that promises to transport us to other worlds is provided here:
Leaving Diaspar
Heliopolis
Candlelight City (ANOB)
Tvé Město I
Edepol
Lightnings
Okhta-Tsentr
Vndadiem ou le 21h06
 
Go deeper into Bruno Karnel's adventure here if you're like me and eager to learn more about his world: https://www.brunokarnel.com/
 
In summary, Villa Solitude is developing into an album that not only demonstrates Bruno Karnel's musical prowess but also acts as a guide for those negotiating the challenges of life. This combination of sounds appeals to both the heart and the mind, making it ideal for reflective times when you simply want to immerse yourself in music. What do you think, then? Will you dance with the loneliness, or are you prepared to accept it?

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