Larsen and Alessandro Sciaraffa Release Collaborative Album 'Golden Leaf'

The Italian band Larsen, formed in Turin in the early 1990s by Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo, Marco Schiavo, and Silvia Grosso, released their 19th album 'Golden Leaf' on November 18, 2023, via Important Records. The album is a collaboration with multimedia artist Alessandro Sciaraffa, whose sound totems—sculptures that function as musical instruments—are integral to the work. Presented as a four-hour ceremonial session at Turin's Spazio Amen on December 11, 2023, the album is divided into two 23-minute parts, creating an immersive, evolving soundscape. Larsen's history includes collaborations with Michael Gira (Swans), Jamie Stewart (Xiu Xiu), and Annie Anxiety. The project originated from a desire to create shared sonic spaces beyond traditional concerts, with Sciaraffa describing the 'Golden Leaf' as a symbol of humanity's generative force. The album blends noise rock, ambient, and drone influences, evoking bands like Sonic Youth and Boris, as well as ritualistic composers such as Charlemagne Palestine.