Album Review: π by Paolo Ippoliti – When Math Meets Mayhem
Let’s get one thing straight: if you’re looking for bangers to blast at your cousin’s birthday party, π by Paolo Ippoliti is not it. Nope. This Italian brainchild from 2002 dives headfirst into experimental electronic music like a mad scientist throwing random chemicals into a bubbling cauldron. It’s weird, it’s wild, and honestly? That’s kinda the charm.
The album comes with zero chill, dropping listeners smack dab in the middle of an avant-garde fever dream. Released under Not On Label (because apparently labels are too mainstream), this record feels more like a secret handshake than a commercial release. And shoutout to Punck for popping up in the credits—someone had to help wrangle these sonic experiments into something resembling tracks!
Now let’s zoom in on two standout moments that’ll stick to your brain like gum under a desk:
First off, there’s “π = ∅.” What even is this title? A math equation? A philosophical statement? Either way, the track slaps harder than most philosophy classes ever will. It starts with glitchy beats that sound like your computer having an existential crisis before morphing into layers of synths so lush they could double as mood lighting. The whole thing builds tension like waiting for pizza delivery during a thunderstorm—you know something good’s coming but damn, why does it take so long? By the time it peaks, you’ve forgotten where you are or what year it is. Honestly, isn’t that what great art should do?
Then there’s another unnamed gem lurking around track five—I won’t spoil which one because part of the fun is stumbling through this labyrinth yourself. Let’s just say it sounds like someone gave a Speak & Spell an espresso shot and told it to DJ a rave. There’s a jittery energy here that makes you wanna dance awkwardly alone in your room while also questioning all your life choices. You hate it, you love it, you can’t stop listening to it. Classic paradox.
What sticks with me about π isn’t just its boldness—it’s how unapologetically itself it is. In a world full of cookie-cutter playlists and algorithm-approved hits, this album dares to be different. Sure, it might leave you scratching your head more often than nodding along, but maybe that’s the point. Maybe music doesn’t always have to make sense; sometimes it just needs to make noise.
So yeah, give π a spin if you’re tired of predictable tunes and crave something that challenges your ears (and patience). Just don’t blame me when you find yourself humming glitch noises in line at the grocery store.
Final thought: If π really equals ∅, then does that mean this album is secretly… nothing? Or everything? Or both? Who knows. All I know is my Spotify Wrapped next year is gonna look very confused.
