- Tony Lionni's music is remarkably unfussy, and that's the secret to its success. Listen to "Found a Place," the most celebratory anthem ever to come out of signing a rental contract, and it's hard not to be envious on a "Well, I could have done that" level. His latest for Wave Music is similarly concise deep house music that focuses on the fundamentals rather than unnecessary adornment. "Music" cuts right to the chase, throwing out a four note melody that will see things through to track's end in the opening moments, and gradually building things around a pumping propulsive beat.
"The Prophet" is similarly cosmic in nature until a synth starts climbing and climbing and climbing until you simply can't hear it anymore. It gives the slightly tougher tune a reach-for-the-stars quality that was lacking on "Music," and the other tracks—"Timeless" and "Anger"—which seem content to rock back and forth in place. Sometimes this works: "Anger" is quick and pounding but thankfully too melodic to deliver on the promise of its title. Indeed, the only track that doesn't quite hit is the title tune, which gets lost the longer it goes on. It's a curious misstep from Lionni, though, because the issue is that its overstuffed with ideas. As he well knows, simplicity can often be your best friend.
Tracklist A Anger
B Timeless