Ekranoplan

Roma

In 1967 American spy satellites photographed a strange giant plane on the Caspian Sea. Wondering what it was,they called it Caspian Sea Monster. That flying object was a Soviet Ekranoplan. This peculiar vehicle and more at large the retrofuturistic aesthetics of the Soviet-allied countries in the '60s and '70s,the Space Race,the Interkosmos project and the question “What if Krautrock was born in DDR?” form the background to Ekranoplan, solo project of Emiliano Tortora from The Hand and formerly of Mat101, analog synth and drum machines enthusiast and collector. The project kick started during the first lockdown in '20 and had a big boost when Inspiral Carpets’ bass player asked him for two remixes of the same song,released on Mark Reeder’s MFS. The style is a mix of Kosmische Musik,Post-Punk,Carpenter,Morricone and Tangerine Dream’s soundtracks,electro à la Kraftwerk,Fad Gadget's electronic New Wave,Madchester,'70s Battiato,early Front 242/DAF, 88/89 Hacienda-like Acid and psychedelia.