Ecstatic Computation

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Ecstatic Computation
Caterina Barbieri -- Ecstatic Computation.jpg
Studio album by
Caterina Barbieri
Released3 May 2019 (2019-05-03)
Genre Electronic [1]
Length36:06
Label Editions Mego
Producer Caterina Barbieri
Caterina Barbieri chronology
Born Again in the Voltage
(2018)		Ecstatic Computation
(2019)		Fantas Variations
(2021)

Ecstatic Computation is a studio album by Italian composer Caterina Barbieri. [2] It was released on 3 May 2019 through Editions Mego. [3] It received universal acclaim from critics. [4]

Contents

Background

Caterina Barbieri is an Italian composer. [2] She released Vertical (2014), Patterns of Consciousness (2017), and Born Again in the Voltage (2018). [2] Ecstatic Computation is her debut studio album for Editions Mego. [5] It was released on 3 May 2019. [3]

Barbieri later released Fantas Variations (2021). [6] It contains reinterpretations of the album's song "Fantas" by Evelyn Saylor, Bendik Giske, Kali Malone, Walter Zanetti, Jay Mitta, Baseck, Carlo Maria, and Kara-Lis Coverdale. [7]

Ecstatic Computation was reissued in 2023 through Barbieri's record label Light-Years, with "Perennial Fantas" added as a CD-only bonus track. [8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 84/100 [4]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Exclaim! 9/10 [10]
Pitchfork 7.8/10 [11]
Resident Advisor 4.0/5 [12]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic , Ecstatic Computation received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 84 out of 100 from 6 critic scores. [4]

Paul Simpson of AllMusic commented that "the album is deeper, darker, and trippier than any of her previous releases." [9] He added, "Intense, emotional, and often revelatory, Ecstatic Computation further establishes Barbieri as a truly visionary artist." [9] Layla Fassa of Resident Advisor stated, "Stylistic influences and sonic textures are varied, yet they're cohesive." [12] She added, "The result is an album that's both provocative and blissful." [12] Joseph Burnett of The Quietus stated, "Even in its most unsettling moments, such as the silent gaps that punctuate the synth notes on closer 'Bow of Perception', Ecstatic Computation retains a sense of expanding horizons and joyful experiments." [13]

Accolades

Year-end lists for Ecstatic Computation
PublicationListRankRef.
Fact The Best Albums of 2019
—
The Quietus Quietus Albums of the Year 2019
3
Resident Advisor 2019's Best Albums
—
The Wire The Wire's Top 50 Releases 2019
41

Track listing

All tracks are written by Caterina Barbieri.

Ecstatic Computation track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Fantas"10:31
2."Spine of Desire"1:32
3."Closest Approach to Your Orbit"6:30
4."Arrows of Time"4:37
5."Pinnacles of You"5:47
6."Bow of Perception"7:03
Total length:36:06
2023 reissue edition CD bonus track
No.TitleLength
7."Perennial Fantas"7:48
Total length:43:54

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes. [18]

References

  1. ↑ "Favorite Electronic Albums | AllMusic 2019 in Review". AllMusic . Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Simpson, Paul. "Caterina Barbieri". AllMusic . Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  3. 1 2 Reid, Mike (12 March 2019). "Italian composer Caterina Barbieri continues to sculpt neurons, announces new album Ecstatic Computation on Editions Mego". Tiny Mix Tapes . Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "Ecstatic Computation by Caterina Barbieri". Metacritic . Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  5. ↑ Sherburne, Philip (26 July 2021). "9 Records That Capture the Spirit of Editions Mego, the Experimental Label Founded by the Late Peter Rehberg". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 19 September 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  6. ↑ Monroe, Jazz (19 February 2021). "Caterina Barbieri Enlists Kara-Lis Coverdale, Kali Malone, and More for New Album, Shares Song: Listen". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  7. ↑ Williger, Jonathan (2 April 2021). "Caterina Barbieri: Fantas Variations". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  8. ↑ "Ecstatic Computation (light-years reissue) | Baterina Barbieri". Bandcamp . Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 Simpson, Paul. "Ecstatic Computation - Caterina Barbieri". AllMusic . Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  10. ↑ Press, Kevin (6 May 2019). "Caterina Barbieri - Ecstatic Computation". Exclaim! . Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  11. ↑ Bowe, Miles (23 May 2019). "Caterina Barbieri: Ecstatic Computation". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 Fassa, Layla (6 May 2019). "Caterina Barbieri - Ecstatic Computation". Resident Advisor . Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  13. ↑ Burnett, Joseph (2 May 2019). "A Better Tomorrow: Caterina Barbieri's Ecstatic Computation". The Quietus . Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  14. ↑ "The best albums of 2019". Fact . 19 December 2019. Archived from the original on 20 June 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  15. ↑ "Quietus Albums Of The Year 2019 (In Association With Norman Records) [page 5 of 5]". The Quietus . 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 22 September 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  16. ↑ "2019's Best Albums". Resident Advisor . 10 December 2019. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  17. ↑ "The Wire's Top 50 Releases 2019". The Wire . December 2019. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  18. ↑ "Ecstatic Computation | Caterina Barbieri". Bandcamp . Retrieved 5 October 2025.
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