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Panoram Unleashes A Synth-Soaked Labyrinth of Playful Dissonance in "What It Means"

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Rome’s enigmatic electronic maestro Panoram (Raffaele Martirani) returns with What It Means, a dazzling and irreverent single released via the esteemed Running Back imprint. Renowned for his genre-defying experiments and hypnotic synthscapes, Panoram continues to captivate the global IDM community with a track that blurs the lines between cerebral introspection and impish playfulness.


With over a decade of sonic exploration under his belt, Panoram’s reputation precedes him. Whether gracing stages at Sónar Festival alongside Kraftwerk or earning a nod from Thom Yorke—who included a track from Pianosequenza Vol.1in his curated Sonos playlist—his artistry is both celebrated and mysterious. Underpinned by collaborations with Amen Dunes and releases on cutting-edge labels like Firecracker and Wandering Eye, Panoram’s sound defies classification, meandering through synthwave, abstract pop, and detuned funk.


What It Means is an immersive, slow-brewing odyssey. A noodling arpeggio weaves through swirling filters, riding atop a shuffling, almost lethargic beat that feels suspended in time. AI-like vocal samples, repeating the cryptic refrain “On the other hand, I don’t always understand what it means,” create a hypnotic loop of cognitive dissonance. These sounds hover around the listener like disembodied guides, adding a disconcerting yet mesmerizing layer to the track’s synth-drenched ecosystem. It’s a kaleidoscopic experience that feels as if Squarepusher had wandered into Vangelis’s studio and decided to indulge in a slow-motion jam session.


“I was sharing a rehearsal space in Brooklyn when I recorded this one. It’s quite a trippy, demented track. I remember being mesmerised by the sound of that bass synth for a couple of days. It felt like it was a good sound for a part with some sort of uncertain vibe.”

Like much of Panoram’s catalog, What It Means thrives on its contradictions—cerebral yet carefree, immersive yet teasingly detached. Fans of Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, and synthwave pioneers will find themselves spellbound, unraveling its layers of sonic complexity while marveling at its playful sense of self-awareness.


With What It Means, Panoram reasserts his place as one of electronic music’s most intriguing outliers. It’s a track that invites you to empty your mind, strap on your sonic helmet, and let the labyrinth consume you.



Stream "What It Means" in full here:


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