A penchant for freeform experimentation and the necessary skill to execute it properly is something all too uncommon in the music of today. However, it is never something we shy away from at Thema. In this sense, the Italian artist Oisel is a breath of fresh air. His compositions appear as if they were painted in a studio lost in time, with brush strokes flowing seamlessly from one musical image to the next. Indeed, for his first EP on our Thema Digital Series, he does not shy away from anomalies but rather embraces them. Tracks like "Eclissi" and "Polvere" have an atmosphere that sits above the traditional rigidness of techno, creating an unmistakable temperament Oisel can truly call his own. The tones pass over the rhythms in an atonal swash of sound, not restricting them, but setting them free. With powerful musical statements already presented on Pole Group's Aine sublabel, as well as his own Evod Music imprint, it is clear that Oisel will continue to make his mark well into the future.

Text by Nathan Levenson