PST1 the initial offering from PST records is an EP from Project Sandro, the duo of Tony Yzarnotegui (Tony Watson) and Anthony Puglisi (Rollmottle). The EP is a culmination of years of work by the duo, both individually and collectively, and it also comes at a time when the two are expanding both their production work and live performances.

PST1 begins with "Tears" an ambitious composition, clocking in at ten minutes plus. It begins with a stately, romantic rhythm that calls to mind Talk Talk, or Simple Minds. The pace is slower, more contemplative -- the mood is twilight in some future dystopia, there is a haze, the beat pics up, there are fragments of sampled vocals, the pace breaks down to a guitar rhythm and some new synth washes. You are on the road alone and the terrain is changing, a guitar lead announces your arrival, transformation has occurred.

"Brand New Day" opens with staggered percussion and keys. The synth lines soar but with a calm reserve. The song carves out space as it progresses, with tone and syncopation driving the journey. These are songs with a directed ambience. The narrative is open ended, but the feeling of a particular place is clear.

The third track on the EP is a remix of Elegant Borzoi's "Lawnmower Woman" on Adult Contemporary. Although it's a remix, the vibe of the song fits seamlessly in with Project Sandro's original work. The same sense of space, the same ennui, futuristic and melancholy haunts the work.

The crepuscular and nocturnal tone of the EP receives a reprieve on the fourth track --contrary to its title, "Desperate Hours" has an ebullience and bounce. The bassline, minimal percussion, and playful keys create a sun dappled feel.

"Mental Mother" can sound like the title to a gothic themed short story or Black Mirror episode, but the song itself has utopian strains.
The synth progressions are uplifting, there is a feeling of assurance and warmth. The mind's work conjures a nurturing mother, a better day, a sustaining world.
With every track on the EP, Project Sandro articulates cinematic and lush environs. With restraint and elegance the songs build soundscapes that give the listener room to engage with a range of emotions from the dark and foreboding to the light of some resolved clarity. Project Sandro does this at their own pace: nothing feels forced or contrived, there are no sleights of hand or overt manipulations.

Like all good art the songs have faith in their intent. The listener is offered a sense of place that they can inhabit, the specifics provided by our subjectivity, the songs rhythms carrying us to our destinations. Project Sandro's first EP is an assured offering and sets the standard for what hopefully will be a prolific oeuvre.

Tears

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In a pinch, if forced to employ adjectives to describe the Mark E. Quark style, one would come up with words like “groovy, laid back and nasty” house music. But putting grammar aside, it’s reasonable to just say that Quark has internalized influences from DJ Harvey, Idjut Boys, Jeno, and Andrew Weatherall, mashed them up, and given life to a signature style and a creature which is totally unique. This creature is currently brought to life for public consumption  at Moonshake in San Diego.

Tony Yzarnotegui aka Tony Watson aka Project Sandro aka Mingmad Jimsu aka Nice Dreams. Bookings www.tonywatsonmusic.com