by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

“Congratulations, listener. You are about to step into an alternate electronic universe.”

So runs the press release to the German producer and synth lover Italo Brutalo‘s second album, setting out his stall for entertainment.

Vintage analogue instruments are the order of the day, for Brutalo – real name Vincent Fries – has amassed quite the collection, putting them to use on a new instrumental album.

What’s the music like?

A lot of fun. Brutalo’s music is packed with incident and riffs, sometimes sounding like a soundtrack to a retro film, and always delivering on the entertainment.

On occasion the pastiche elements bring reminders of past groups, as in the way Memory Sync draws from Blancmange’s Living On The Ceiling, but this all happens in a really good and creative way. Some of Brutalo’s creations are inspired, with Chasing Shadows a brilliant kind of TV / club mash-up, with euphoric block synth chords to lift the spirits. Free To Move has a very funky undercarriage, conjuring good memories of Cybotron, while Human Code is a more serious but equally satisfying driving groove. Not all the tracks are fast, and Brutalo shows he can do an effective slow disco jam in the form of I Am A Creator.

Does it all work?

Yes, providing you don’t mind a bit of retro gazing. This is music that will slot effortlessly into the party.

Is it recommended?

It is. Second Horizon wears its heart on its sleeve, creating a host of feelgood movements that sound great when turned up loud.

For fans of… Todd Terje, Lindstrøm, Blancmange, Daft Punk

Listen / Buy

Published post no.2,562 – Thursday 13 June 2025