Mario Batkovic – Semper

Batkovic presents a holism in his music that draws on the full capabilities of the instrument. This is reflected in quite a staggering range of pitch, volume and timbre that the instrument is able to produce, something that Batkovic exposes gloriously for the first time ever.

However there are also subtleties in the production of the album that also make it a technical and aesthetic triumph. Batkovic wanted to translate the true sound of the accordion for the audience, in terms of representing exactly the way it sounds to him while he’s performing.

It took over a year to solve the problems regarding the audio engineering of the album, but this now means that the stereo image opens up a whole new sonic spatiality, immersing the listener in a vivid and intricate sound-space.

“I wanted all of the instruments breathing, air noises and the sounds of flapping of claps to be audible. So the handicaps of the accordion can be transformed into benefits, creating a new sound”