ALBUM BY THE INVISIBLE SESSION – SPACE ECHO
After years of silence following the release of their self-titled debut album in 2006, Luciano Cantone — co-founder of Schema Records — returns to the scene with a new project.
BUY ALBUM
At his side is longtime friend and multi-instrumentalist Gianluca Petrella, along with a renewed ensemble, to present Echoes of Africa, the second musical chapter, released on the newly founded label Space Echo.
As the title suggests, the album stems from a deep and passionate immersion into African music.
The recordings are enriched by the impeccable rhythmic touch of Ethiopian drummer and percussionist Abdissa “Manba” Assefa, the spiritual elegance of Gambian kora player Haruna “Jalimansa” Kuyateh, and the intense voice of Finnish-based African-American vocalist Bentality. Their influences deeply inspired the Western musicians involved in the project.
The foundation lies in Afrobeat: the music of Africa 70 and the unmistakable drumming of Tony Allen form the rhythmic backbone upon which melodies based on pentatonic scales are built, evoking sounds that stretch as far as the Middle East and Asia.
Though traversing a wide array of genres and inspirations — from funk to afrobeat, psychedelia to modal jazz and ethio-jazz — “Echoes of Africa” remains an accessible and enjoyable work, deeply rooted in pop sensibility. It’s a cinematic musical experience, rich with ancestral echoes, inviting the listener on an immersive and liberating sonic journey.
“Journey To The East” was born thanks to the music of vibraphonist Mulatu Astatke and an in-depth educational study of Ethiopian music. The composition is built around a melody using the Major Batti Lydian scale. Its pentatonic nature, enhanced by unique intervals, creates a soundscape with hints of Middle Eastern influence.
Ethiopia continues to serve as a source of inspiration in “Entoto” and “Breathe the Rhythm”, two original pieces composed entirely by trombonist and multi-instrumentalist Gianluca Petrella, which add new layers of cultural richness and sonic depth to the project.
At first glance, Hearing The Call might seem like a response to the tragic events of May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis. In reality, the piece was conceived back in 2018, inspired by the poem Children by Haki R. Madhubuti, featured on the album “Medasi” – Nation.
Themes of oppression and the ongoing fight for human rights had long been present in the mind of the producer, emerging here with a renewed sense of urgency and relevance.
The track offers a powerful reflection on racism, homophobia, and the political systems that continue to deny fundamental rights.
The voice of young African-American/Finnish artist Benjamin “Bentality” Paavilainen — who both wrote and performed the poem — flows naturally over a modal musical bed, choosing immersive sonic textures over traditional jazz improvisation.
Mystical sound effects and entrancing percussion accompany and captivate the listener, while the text addresses Black men and women, asking a critical question: have we been forgotten as a nation?
The poet reflects on the strength, brutality, and marginalization of the Black nation, invoking the powerful imagery of “Strange Fruit“, the iconic song immortalized by Billie Holiday. “We are strong, we are here,” the poem declares, advancing through the voices of its enemies with determination and resolve. It is a statement of resilience, dignity, and identity — resonating as deeply in the music as it does in the words.
The Invisible Session had already explored environmental themes as early as their debut release. Their 2005 album on Schema Records features “To the Powerful”, a kind of prayer built on a hypnotic Afro-jazz groove, directed at the world’s leaders. It is a heartfelt appeal to protect Mother Earth, underlining that without the proper balance of her elements, life itself would no longer be possible.
In tune with today’s environmental movements and the growing sense of urgency, tracks like “Ideas, Can Make the World” and “People All Around the World, Can Make It” continue this path of awareness. With their vibrant Afrobeat/Funk rhythm, these pieces present themselves as brief, powerful anthems — true collective mantras in the spirit of 1970s American funk bands.
THE SINGLES
The message is clear: a small change is all it takes to shift direction and counteract the damaging effects of globalization. “We can make it!” they chant, with energy and hope.
A more meditative reflection on the climate crisis can be found in “Mother Forgive Us”, once again written and performed by the inspired Bentality. Here, a prayer emerges through a slow-tempo musical flow built on a hypnotic funk riff.
The recurring mantra “Mother Earth, forgive us” resonates like a conscious lament — a reminder that we have yet to fully understand the value of what has been entrusted to us.
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LORENZO MORRESI
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ANAN
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