Codes And Conventions is the debut album by Perth radio contributor come audio artist Antonino Tati (who also happens to be the Editor of Cream). The album flirts with beats, synths, samples and retro advertising while traversing various genres: electronica, nu wave pop, spoken word, even delving into a little blues territory.

Music is very much borrowed, from artists as diverse and prolific as The Beatles, U2, Depeche Mode, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Eurythmics and other inspirational acts.

As much as the album is mixed-up in genre, its lyrics and aural nuances add up to a kaleidoscopic commentary on commercial culture, while also throwing all manner of sex and sexuality into the mix. ‘Codes And Conventions’ challenges traditional doctrine while acting as a humorous contrast to the more serious studies of these themes. The album’s free-thinking attitude toward sex and sexuality is a refreshing change from the the woke seriousness on these topics as presented in your more traditional media. The record as a whole is like one giant aural meme machine.

Created from mostly found footage – from samples lifted off classic Beatles songs to full phone-sex conversations, kitsch advertising jingles of the 1950s to an-all-genres-are-go grunge attitude of the 1990s, the album is eclectic, to say the least. Yet, for all its pillaging, parody and pastiche, Codes And Conventions is a standalone work of conceptual art that proves hooky music and clever song lyrics aren’t the only things that make a great pop record – audio manipulation can add to the glorious mix.

Prepare your ears for an electronic, sometimes erotic, often sparodic and certainly sardonic journey into sound.

Interlude - Matt Anonymo & The Matrix News

Antonino is a presenter on alternative radio station RTRFM and writer of pop culture blog, Cream. In his music-making capacity he marries classic pop tracks with kitsch advertisements to create postmodern mind mischief.

Interlude - Matt Anonymo & The Matrix News

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