Curated art label Curious Music is pleased to announce the forthcoming release of ‘I Am Ghosts’ (released 10th October), the definitive gathering of Italian sound artist Luca Formentini’s deeply personal ‘Ghosts’ series, originally released as a series of digital EPs.
Working in the field of ambient, electro-acoustic and experimental music, the composer, environmental activist, and wine maker is fascinated by how music can suggest rather than dictate, leaving much to the listener’s own imagination. His work often invites listeners to engage with the intangible and the unseen, using sound as a medium to explore the boundaries of perception and emotion.
Throughout his artistic journey, he has engaged with a wide range of musical traditions and mentors, including the improvisational spirit of Derek Bailey, Jon Russell, and Henry Kaiser; the handcrafted instrument artistry of Hans Reichel; the untamed sonic worlds of Elliott Sharp; the playful experimentation of Holger Czukay; and the magical depth of real-time processing with Jon Hassell and Robert Rich. These diverse influences have shaped Formentini’s unique approach to sound as both medium and message – an investigation into emotional and perceptual depth. His music often defies categorization, moving fluidly between abstraction and form, stillness, and intensity. Evocative ambient moments gain tension, angular passages become mysterious and poetic, and haunting textures dissolve into silence. Contrasting elements may occur simultaneously, layered in ways that open emotional and spatial dimensions.
Formentini’s ’Ghost’ series is shaped by sound in the same spontaneous, organic way the natural world forms itself – through quiet, instinctive forces. Like rivers carving valleys or wind shaping dunes, these compositions unfold without strict design, inviting listeners into a space of contemplation, where presence and impermanence coexist. They connect with themes of identity, absence, and presence, reflecting on how much of what affects us is unseen or barely perceived, like “ghosts.”
His approach to sound design is deeply experimental and tactile and he employs a combination of field recordings, modular synthesis, and custom-built instruments crafted from recycled materials. His guitar work is heavily processed through digital and analog effects, transforming it into a tool for sculpting immersive, layered sound environments. This method aligns with his broader artistic philosophy of using sound to evoke introspection and emotional resonance.
Luca Formentini was born in 1968 in Brescia, northern Italy. He discovered his first deep connection with sound through the drones created by household electric appliances. By age 10, he was captivated by the layered harmonics of acoustic instruments. At 14, he began composing music using a free and intuitive approach to the guitar, which remains his primary instrument – self-taught, exploratory, and expressive.
His discography includes five solo albums as well as numerous collaborative and side projects and he has toured in Europe, the United States, and Japan. His most recent releases include ‘Reverie’ with Markus Stockhausen (2023) and ‘Cloud Ornament’ with Robert Rich (2024). Formentini has recorded and performed with a wide array of artists including Markus Stockhausen, Robert Rich, Holger Czukay, Lino Capra Vaccina, Steve Lawson, Frank Vigroux, Steve Jansen, Theo Travis, Alvin Curran, Paolo Dellapiana, Stefano Castagna, and Deborah Walker.
Beyond music, Luca Formentini is passionate about language, philosophy, I-Ching, psychology, and Taoism. He speaks English and German, understands French, and is deeply interested in visual art, particularly abstraction. These interests have led to interdisciplinary collaborations with sculptors, painters, filmmakers, and dance companies. His ongoing project ‘Art Spaces’ investigates the intersection of contemporary art and the acoustic environment.
‘Box of Ghosts’ will be released digitally on the 10th October and includes all four ‘I Am Ghosts’ EPs, alongside bonus tracks ‘Falia’ and ‘We Don’t End’, and new, binaural mixes created in collaboration with sound artist, Robert Rich. Both tracks also appear in immersive Dolby Atmos versions, offering a dimensional listening experience that extends the ‘Ghosts’ ethos into new territory.
In addition, ‘I Am Ghosts’ will also be released on 180g crystal clear vinyl. Featuring artwork by acclaimed visual artist Petulia Mattioli, her designs mirror Formentini’s sensitivity to absence, fragmentation, and memory. Rather than offering resolution, it invites contemplation: torn forms, quiet textures, and open space reflect the same ambiguity and intimacy found in the music. Each element – visual and sonic – feels like memory itself: layered, partial, and alive with unseen presence.
Luca Formentini ‘I Am Ghosts’
Album released 10th October
Curious Music
2xLP 180g crystal clear vinyl + digital
Tracklisting
Luca Formentini ‘I Am Ghosts’ (vinyl)
A1. ‘The Seventh Wolf’
A2. ‘Dripping’
A3. ‘Deep Flower’
A4. ‘An Invisible Neighbor’
B1. ‘Hidden’
B2. ‘Overdive’
B3. ‘The I of a Tree’
B4. ‘Pan’
C1. ‘I Am Ghosts’
C2. ‘Thin Shape’
C3. ‘Becoming Animal’
D1. ‘While Falling’
D2. ‘Experience Borders’
Luca Formentini ‘Box of Ghosts’ (digital)
‘The Seventh Wolf’
‘Dripping’
‘Deep Flower’
‘An Invisible Neighbor’
‘Hidden’
‘Overdive’
‘The I of a Tree’
‘Pan’
‘I Am Ghosts’
‘Thin Shape’
‘Becoming Animal’
‘While Falling’
‘Experience Borders’
‘Falia’ – bonus track
Falia (Atmos Mix) – bonus track
‘We Don’t End’ – bonus track
‘We Don’t End (Atmos Mix) – bonus track
Photo credit: Manuela Esquilli
Stay tuned for Electronic ConnectFM Tracks of the Month selection and listen to Luca Formentini’s new music first
https://www.lucaformentini.com/
