This time my sonic pilgrimage as a musical “spider” of the sonosphere, brings me back to a project, curated by research musician Raffaele Pezzella, called Unexplained Sounds. Some of this interesting creation are landing on Kathodik‘s digital shores, but as is my wont, I found it necessary to delve deeper into the philosophy that covers the network and the various musical offshoots that make it interesting and worth listening to. Here’s to you reading
Where Did the Idea to Found the Unexplained Sounds Network Originate?
In 2011-2012, after a nearly 12-year hiatus from my early musical experiments—which were released in 2000 under the name “Memorie Elettroniche Sonore” — I returned to producing electronic music under Sonologyst, my current personal project. At the time, to gain visibility, I joined various social networks where I shared my music. Besides promoting my self-released works, I also enjoyed writing short reviews of other people’s music.
Back then, social media was genuinely effective for gaining exposure—unlike today, where they have essentially become paid platforms if you want even minimal visibility. In a short time, an engaged online community of enthusiasts, musicians and non-musicians alike, formed around me. Many began encouraging me to start a label and a streaming radio show to further highlight these artistic contributions.
Driven by this genuine enthusiasm, in 2015 I founded the label Unexplained Sounds Group and the web radio program The Recognition Test, which has now reached episode #360. Meanwhile, I continued working on Sonologyst. What started as a game, a passion, a curiosity, and an enthusiasm for musical experimentation grew far beyond my initial expectations.
Over the years, this initiative expanded significantly, leading to the creation of two subsidiary labels—Eighth Tower Records in 2017 and ZeroK in 2020—the acquisition of the Swedish label Reverse Alignment in 2021 (which was on the verge of closing, and I decided to take it over), the launch of a dark fiction book publishing section, and the creation of a web magazine on music and modern mythologies (Eighth Tower), hosted on Patreon.
What Musical Direction Do the Subsidiaries Eighth Tower Records, ZeroK, and Reverse Alignment Follow? And Why?
It’s not so much about musical genres defining my labels—although there are some aesthetic differences—but rather about how I use these platforms as artistic containers.
For example, Eighth Tower Records, which is certainly specialized in dark and industrial-leaning productions, has evolved into an entity that bridges music with various art forms, such as cinema, literature, and visual arts. This is achieved through the publication of both albums/compilations and dark fiction books, often dedicated to key figures in underground and mainstream culture. On one hand, it’s a way to pay tribute to the artists and cultural figures who have played a crucial role in shaping my artistic vision (D. Cronenberg, Lucio Fulci, Z. Beksinski, A. Tarkowskij, H.P.Lovecraft). On the other, it’s about exploring synesthetic intersections and artistic synergies.
ZeroK, on the other hand, was conceived as a container for projects with a stronger focus on hauntological science fiction themes (J. Ballard, cold war and alien theories). With Reverse Alignment, the situation is different since I didn’t create the label but acquired it in 2021, 14 years after its launch in Sweden. In this case, I’ve aimed to preserve its original focus on experimental and minimalist ambient music while also incorporating works by artists who are particularly attentive to and inclined toward musique concrète suche as Richard Bégin.
Tell us about the web radio show The Recognition Test.
As I mentioned, it was created shortly after the launch of the Unexplained Sounds Group label (I believe just a few months later) and was conceived with the goal of promoting underground ambient and experimental music. Over its 10-year lifespan, it has gained attention not only from artists who reach out to me to present their work but also from various radio stations around the world that have asked to rebroadcast it in their slots. So, after my original streaming, which airs every two Fridays on Eighth Tower Magazine, the show is then retransmitted by radio stations in the UK, US, Canada, Italy, and Greece. This has created a valuable network for musicians looking to get radio exposure for their music.
Tell Us About Your Sonologyst Project.
Sonologyst is my way of translating my passion for documentaries—especially those focused on scientific and para-scientific subjects into sound. Or, if you will, it’s a way to give an organic, thematic context to my love for experimentation in electronic music. At the beginning, my sonic explorations were varied, sometimes even a bit random and disorganized. But over time, a distinctive style and thematic direction emerged, which now fully defines the project. This is evident in my recent releases on the UK label Cold Spring and will continue to shape my future works. Whenever I’ve wanted to experiment more freely, without adhering to a specific theme, I’ve preferred to do so through collaborations such as those with Maurizio Bianchi, the American artist David Lee Myers, and the Swedish musician Lars Bröndum.
Unexplained Sounds Group Releases CDs and Digital Formats. Have You Ever Considered Vinyl? Which Format Best Expresses the Network’s Musical Vision?
Definitely CDs, sometimes CDRs, and, more rarely, cassette tapes, which I have a strong sentimental attachment to. I’ve never seriously considered producing vinyl for my own or others’ releases because it’s a medium that is inflexible, expensive, and dynamically limited for certain types of music. That said, I’m glad that vinyl is still thriving and hasn’t disappeared, as physical media serve as a form of resistance against the overwhelming dominance of streaming—a major threat to independent labels. Streaming has not only made it harder for small labels to survive but has also led to a decline in the overall quality of music consumption. The rise of random, unfocused listening habits has eroded the depth and intent behind musical works.
What Are Your Thoughts on Co-Productions Between Record Labels?
They’re an excellent way to share production costs, as long as they happen between labels that genuinely share a similar DNA.
What Do You Think About Social Media for Promoting Unexplained Sound Group’s Music?
Since my labels originally emerged from social media communities, I obviously can’t speak negatively about them. However, it’s undeniable that platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube have changed dramatically over the past 15 years. They’ve shifted from being genuine spaces for content-driven sharing and organic visibility to money-making machines that push you to spend as much as possible or risk being shadowed (essentially hidden from audiences by the algorithm). This makes it increasingly important to build strong, real connections with dedicated followers and foster meaningful cultural exchanges rather than focusing solely on growing social media numbers. Expanding the community on these platforms is still a strategy to pursue, but it’s no longer the main one.
What Do You Think About a Book Chronicling the History of the Project?
A few years ago, a journalist (whose name and publication I won’t disclose for privacy reasons) proposed writing a mini-biography, but nothing came of it. Perhaps a serialized piece covering the first 10 years of the network could be published in Eighth Tower Magazine and later compiled into a monographic volume. However, I would need a volunteer to help me with this undertaking.
Any Upcoming Releases?
Yes! The new album by The Great Old Ones—my side project dedicated to Lovecraft’s Great Old Ones and cosmic horror—is about to be released. Immediately after that, I’ll be publishing a project dedicated to the master of American science fiction, Philip K. Dick.
Additionally, I’m working on a podcast that will intersect music with other artistic, cultural, and creative fields, exploring themes that resonate with both me and my followers.
Links:
https://unexplainedsoundsgroup.bandcamp.com
https://eighthtowerrecords.bandcamp.com
https://www.patreon.com/eighthtower
https://sonologyst.bandcamp.com
https://zerok.bandcamp.com
https://reversealignment.bandcamp.com
