Astrobal – L’Uomo E La Natura | soundsfromthedarkside

If you are in need of some smooth futuristic sounds during these troubling times, Astrobal has got you covered.

French drummer and producer Emmanuel Mario, known as Astrobal, takes an unexpected yet welcome detour into the realms of library exotica and cosmic pop with L’uomo e la Natura. Released via Berlin’s Karaoke Kalk label, the album is a masterful blend of easy-listening futurism, electronica, and vintage charm. In this case vintage also means that L’uomo e la Natura is an ode to the lounge soundscapes of the 90s.

From the very first note, it’s clear that Astrobal isn’t merely echoing the vibrant sounds of 25 years ago. Instead, he crafts a luminous, dreamlike atmosphere, building on the legacy of Air’s Moon Safari (1998) and Sébastien Tellier’s synth-pop. However, Astrobal’s synths have a distinct character and wobble like distant space signals while lively basslines and tropical rhythms keep the music light and buoyant. Fans of Arling & Cameron kitsch elevator pop will find a familiar charm in Astrobal’s latest creation.

While the album is undeniably fun and playful, it also explores the realms of library music and cinematic pop. Tracks like L’abeille pourpre blend funky rhythms with swirling melodies, while Miami 2064 conjures a vision of a flooded city, shifting between brooding synth tones and spacey soundscapes that would feel right at home in The Darkside Detective video games. At least, in its first half. As Miami 2064 unfolds, shimmering guitars and dreamy synthetic vocals emerge, layered with melodies that evoke both nostalgia and a futuristic haze.

Despite its dreamy atmosphere, L’uomo e la Natura occasionally delves into deeper themes, touching on environmental and political issues, hints of which can be found in the song titles. Yet, Astrobal doesn’t offer clear-cut answers. Instead, he leaves it up to the listener to interpret his sonic landscapes. Are the electronic beats of Galassia M81 a rallying cry for protest? Do the warm, nostalgic tones of La Terre c’est espace allude to climate change? That’s for you to decide, or not of course. If this isn’t enough to take in, Astrobal also adds an extra layer of cultural richness to the album by singing both title tracks (with help from Nina Savary) in French and Italian.

With L’uomo e la Natura, Astrobal has crafted an intelligent album that feels easy and thought-provoking at the same time. Whether you let it drift by as breezy background music or dive into its subtle reflections on a changing world, the album reveals new depths with each listen, thanks to its rich electronic layers and details. L’uomo e la Natura is proof that nostalgia and innovation can coexist, and thus it just might be this year’s best-kept secret.