Montreal, Autum / 2024
“Os Mares de Solaris” began to take shape here in Montreal during the winter of 2019, almost five years ago. The album was inspired not only by Tarkovsky’s film Solaris but also by the book by Polish writer Stanisław Lem. I was fascinated by the poetic gravity of the images of the Solaris Ocean and deeply moved by the idea of the dead orbiting the living. I watched the film several times, trying to find ways to translate those two feelings into one or two sonic compositions.
As a South American facing the Canadian winter, I devoted many Friday and Saturday nights to composing “The Seas of Solaris”, “Harey”, and “Kelvin.” That winter, I completed the first mixes of these pieces, but it wasn’t until 2023 that I gained deeper knowledge of compositional processes in Ableton and other music editing programs, which allowed me to approach the result I had long been searching for.
((I could say that this project responds to the need to create a closed environment, similar to the one Tarkovsky evokes in his film. The lights, sounds, and images of the Solaris ocean, together with Kelvin’s futile attempts to bring an end to the (image of) Harey, contribute to the construction of a claustrophobic atmosphere. That sensation paralyzes us, forcing us to be mere witnesses.))
It took five years and much patience to finally present an album with ten compositions.
At the beginning of 2024, I spoke with Pablo Bas and Franco Falistoco (Calathea) about my intention to release the album. Pablo, with his experience and attention to detail, suggested dividing the album into two parts, reorganizing the order of the pieces, and carrying out a mastering process that respected the poetics of the project.
Since Franco approved the release, I have reflected on how people will listen to the album: on a car trip, during a walk through a park full of trees, on an autumn day, or even on a rainy summer afternoon. Although it is impossible to foresee its reception, I like to imagine these compositions being enjoyed under a single ritual: listen to them wherever you wish, but without interrupting the flow. In other words, each record is best appreciated without pauses, in a calm environment and with full attention. Save the breaks for changing records, not between tracks. And if that is not possible, create the conditions for listening yourself. The essential thing is to listen.
Warm regards,
Anésio Neto, a.k.a. stellatum_
▌Anésio Neto
▌FEBRERO — 2025
