Giuseppe Ottaviani - Countdown

As any Spanish native will tell you, ‘alma’ means ‘soul’. And it’s from that exact place that Giuseppe Ottaviani’s new studio album originates. Marking a departure in part from the high-octane, exclusively primetime sound with which he made his name, it sees him cast his soundnet wider… and markedly deeper. With only weeks to go before its September 30 release, today the producer reveals the full partner list for his third longplayer. Through it, Giuseppe gives the clearest of indicators as to how ALMA will sound in its end-to-end entirety. After announcing last month that Paul van Dyk, Kyler England & Christian Burns would feature, today sees Sue McLaren, Eric Lumiere, Jennifer Rene, Tricia McTeague and others join ALMA’s studio cast. With DJ Mag hinting at “a more multifarious album”, Dancing Astronaut stating that it “features personal pieces” and MIXMAG bestowing it with October Album of the Month honours, ALMA looks set to go places few – if any - longplayers have stepped before. ALMA embarks with Brightheart, its just-released second single. A collaboration between Giuseppe & Christian Burns, it sees the English singer bring a new level high in meaningful songwriting and emotional infiltration. Building on that, newcomer Tim Hilberts impresses endlessly with On The Way You Go’s wistful, delivery and beyond-his-years lyric writing. A little further in, Eric Lumiere (who’s Love Will Bring It All Around kicked off ‘Magenta’s 2014 campaign) wows all over again with...