Vaghe Stelle

Daniele Mana's Vaghe Stelle moniker hosts an unconventional approach to music that is defined not by any particular set of sounds, but an overarching "weirdness" that is uniquely Vaghe Stelle. On H.O.P.E., this approach sometimes works for Mana, audibly on the kraut-y, shimmering and disjointed rhythms of "4th Hope," and the schizoid Eastern sample cuts of "10th Hope." However, equally as often, his left-leaning ideas feel underdeveloped, his harsh production style growing tiresome as a result. That isn't to say H.O.P.E. doesn't have its moments: Mana's palette is extremely creative and diverse, and many of his percussive and rhythmic sounds are distinctive, instantly embedding themselves in your memory. His collective assemblage of these sounds, however, doesn't yet seem to match his skill for sonic eclecticism, though it primes us positively for future Vaghe Stelle releases.