Italy’s A Quiet Guy explores alienation with fresh and interesting debut album, Corpi Estanei.

By Graeme Smith

New to our pages, A Quiet Guy is the project of Po Valley, Italy-based Alessandro Mogni, the voice and guitar of power rock trio, Iceberg. As a project, it focusses on the electric guitar and the boundaries it can push. He’s just come to my attention thanks to his debut album, Corpi Estranei which translates in English as “Foreign Bodies.”

The title refers to the idea of alienation and across the album’s seven tracks we explore themes of human connection, introspection, and the fragile beauty of unresolved moments. Things get going with Nessun Prologo which a combines ghostly, Godspeed You Black Emperor-esque instrumental with a delicate spoken word vocal. It lures us into Alessandro’s world beautifully.

From there we are taken through a gamut of emotions all created by lingering electric guitar compositions. Sapere tutto, conoscere nulla is hauntingly severe while Il nostro meglio manages a beautiful interplay between delicate percussion and terse strings which feels at once bright and foreboding.

Una questione irrisolta feels like a rush of blood to the head, combining the atmosphere of a Western with the edge of post-rock. Mettersi a posto is expansive with plenty of echoing notes. Amore, è un cane che si morde la coda introduces some layers of vocalisation to provide a balm to its edgy, urgent arrangement. Il principio closes the collection with a hypnotic final chapter that will stay with you.

The music on A Quiet Guy’s debut EP is mostly instrumental, but each track speaks volumes. Alessandro makes the guitar sing while giving us some fresh and interesting compositions. If you’re looking for a collection that will transport you, look no further.

Corpi Estranei is out now via Raighes Factory. You can give it a listen below.