Niconote - REGOLA (2024)

A suite in nine movements inspired by the mythic medieval composer Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)
An ambitious, conceptual work of hypnotic, immersive electronics & transcendent, experimental vocals, exploring the enduring influence of the polymathic German saint & philosopher


‘REGOLA’ (Italian for ‘RULE’) is a record that calls for a contemplative form of deep listening, a time-dilating experience in which the
polyphonic voices of NicoNote ascend, opening up a portal into an archaic, eternal past, where lost sounds coalesce with future
revelations.
Originally conceived in 2003 as a sound performance, ‘REGOLA’ found new life - and necessity – in recent years, with NicoNote’s
subsequent voice work condensing and expressing a path between musical and performative practice, allowing a fascinating theatricality
to emerge in emblematic pieces such as ‘REGOLA VII’ and ‘REGOLA IX’, as well as within the sinuous, rhythmic dimensions of ‘REGOLA
IV’ and ‘REGOLA VI’.
The album’s nine movements reflect the ritualism of daily practice, mirroring nine episodes of work and prayer in a nun’s day - ‘Ora et
Labora’ – an observance that echoes some Oriental philosophies.
In NicoNote’s evocation of Hildegard von Bingen, there are ancient, immortal resonances, illuminated through an approach that is neither
academic nor religious but intuitive and emotive. The music moves beyond temporal foundations rooted in the medieval period, and even
in the present, and instead exists firmly in the future, in where our past can take us.
The voice that leads ‘REGOLA’ is one voice with many presences, a singular yet myriad element that transitions from oracular recitations
and enigmatic sprechgesang to soaring euphonic hymns. Stories and interiorities accrete in these soundworks, forming an ageless,
existential exploration of the soul across the centuries. The vision of a woman – and of human nature – in the face of the universe, in its
contradictions, in its radiant vulnerability, in the face of great mysteries.
‘REGOLA’ is an enveloping masterwork that opens up an atemporal space for suspension, listening, and newly liberating states of mind.
‘REGOLA’ is the product of a transformative process for NicoNote, a multi-disciplinary, experimental artist engaged in a unique artistic
journey and active in the fields of music, theatre, and performance. Originating in 1996, the NicoNote project is distinguished by the
focalization of language as a fluid, hybrid construction. A boundless project with a diverse scope, NicoNote has appeared on labels
including Mille Plateaux, Music From Memory, Rizosfera, Rough Trade and has performed at Festival Transmusicales, Cocoricò, Festival
d’Automne, Festival TransAmériques, Tempo Reale, the Fondation Cartier in Paris and more.
‘REGOLA’ will be available on vinyl and all digital platforms from 26th September 2024