By Libby Driscoll

Exploring philosophical lyrics, electronic experimentation and striking visuals, Francesca Monte’s Alièn EP shows an expressive journey from her innermost self to the borders of the galaxies.

 Released last year, the Italian artist’s concept EP, Alièn, is truly a piece of art that demands your richest attention. From alternative textural choices to experimental compositional arrangements Monte’s contemporary approach to her music is certainly highlighted throughout the five-track EP. Exploring perspectives from both the present and the future, Monte’s lyrics deliberate taking the world for granted, inspiring an inward journey to the depths of her soul.

Paired with a short film of the same name directed by Paolo Hanzo, Alièn’s accompaniment of psychedelic visuals create a fully immersive experience. Combining fashion design and visual arts, the pieces worn in the film were designed by both Italian and British emerging talent, ensuring the gender-fluid garments paid special attention to both the EP and sustainable fashion.

Alièn opens with the ethereal synth-scapes of Burn. The sci-fi nature of the track is rapidly solidified with daunting bass pads, synthesised brass and slowly morphing rhythmic pads battling with erratic interference. The music wavers between industrial-styled textures to an almost shoegaze atmosphere throughout the song, creating resilient, vibrant imagery of the cosmos. Though utilising a few electronic effects, the vocal’s cleaner approach juxtaposes the heavier atmosphere, further encapsulating the alternative nature of the music.

The title track of the EP, Alièn, effortlessly highlights itself as the EP’s main focus. Though indeed displaying Monte’s compositional style, the unique elements weave themselves amongst a more reachable style of music. Of the whole EP, Alièn feels like it lends its hand to a more viable style that would see the world of airplay significantly more frequently than its counterparts. This being said, it doesn’t feel separated from the EP; the brash metallic shots and phasered soundscapes hold the endearing atmosphere of Monte’s work.

Again, revisiting a more shoegaze style, the EP’s ultimate piece, Sun, exudes the highest parallel of emotion throughout Alièn. Monte’s take on a smoother ballad adds a melancholic, but virtuous closure to the EP. The track eases Alièn away instead of closing it off, creating a buoyant atmosphere akin to softly floating away, allowing you to reflect on the journey you’ve just experienced.

Alièn as a whole feels like a piece of art as opposed to a standard collection of music. Each listener’s perspective will no doubt differ, with each individual resonating with different elements of the composition, it is indeed a piece of work to be appreciated and pondered on as opposed to something played in the background of a bar. Alièn feels like a defining piece for Francesca Monte, and I’ll be eagerly awaiting her future works.

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