marcello cassanelli / caruso & helen mccormack: the coin ep vol. 3
Francisco Espregueira
Ten Lovers Music launches 2025 with the third installment of their brilliant Coin EP series, featuring Marcello Cassanelli and the collaborative project of Caruso & Helen McCormack. Cassanelli's side of The Coin EP Vol. 3 is a vibrant display of his multi-instrumental talents, opening with "Starlight," a contemporary take on Italian disco, followed by the Cuban-inspired "Tropical Breeze," featuring vocals from Giulia Barozzi and drums by Antonio Rapa. Both tracks highlight Cassanelli's mastery of keys, bass, flute, guitar, and drum programming. The A-side concludes with "Dream Horizon," a spontaneous, beatless Rhodes improvisation. This section of the EP showcases a relaxed yet sophisticated approach, with unhurried pan flutes, roiling strings, and swirling G-synths creating an electro-tropical backdrop.
The B-side introduces Caruso & Helen McCormack, whose contributions evoke the spirit of late 80s Manchester street soul. "Have and Hold" is a minimalist construction of electronic drums, bass, piano, and synth, perfectly complementing McCormack's razor-edge R&B vocals. "Love You More," written by McCormack and featuring strings arranged by Cormac Fulton and percussion by Takashi Nakazato, is a lush, atmospheric piece. Caruso's instrumental "Central" closes the EP with a deep house vibe, utilizing analog synthesizers like the Solina String Ensemble, ARP Odyssey, and Oberheim Xpander, creating a shimmering, glitterball-infused soundscape. This half of the release offers a contrasting yet equally compelling sonic experience, showcasing the diverse talents within the Ten Lovers Music roster. The Coin Vol. 3 is about to drop on vinyl. Don’t sleep on it!
Listen to:
Cumulative Collective / Re:Fill - The Coin Vol. 1 [Ten Lovers Music, 2023]
The Robinson / Takahiro Fuchigami - The Coin Vol. 2 [Ten Lovers Music, 2024]