Nicola Conte and Nico Lahs’ Tema Due project finally comes to full realization in a double LP entitled “Universo Astratto,” adding a wealth of new musical shades and ideas to the two EPs released on Schema Records in 2025. The album represents not only the natural evolution of their artistic dialogue, but also a statement of intent in terms of sound.
Fans of the most sophisticated and refined club music, elevated by the fusion of exquisite electronica with spiritual jazz (it is no coincidence that the opening track evokes the baseline of “A Love Supreme”), African-American rhythms and tribal percussion, will be thrilled by this complex and multi-layered album, which unveils new hidden details upon each listen.
A meticulous selection of exceptional musicians contributes in a distinctive and significant way to broadening the scope of the project: Giovanni Guidi, Pietro Lussu, and Dario Bassolino on keyboards, Gabriel Prado and Abdissa Assefa on percussion, Magnus Lindgren on wind instruments and Hammond organ, and Pasquale Calò on saxophone. On vocals we have Lalin St. Juste, Siya Makuzeni, Nina Miranda - for what is probably the best track on the album, “Share Your Love” - and Toco - for a new and previously unreleased version of the track “Macumba de Oxalà” featured on the first EP.
In “Universo Astratto,” Tema Due’s vision is finally fulfilled: a world of ancestral grooves, cosmic jazz, and electronic music conceived for clubs as a type of “active experience” in which one is transcended by music. This record is an invitation—to move, to feel, to elevate—and a manifesto for those who see the dance floor not just as a location, but as a shared experience of awareness and rhythm.
credits
released May 8, 2026
TEMA DUE is a project by NICOLA CONTE and NICO LAHS
Produced by Nicola Conte and Nico Lahs
Publishing by Edizioni Ishtar Srl
except “Share Your Love” - Publishing by Edizioni Ishtar and Sentric Music Limited
All songs written by Nicola Conte and Nicola Loporchio except
“La Danse De L’Esprit” written by Nicola Conte, Nicola Loporchio and Lalin St. Juste
“Share Your Love” written by Nicola Conte, Nicola Loporchio and Nina Miranda
“Got To Find The Way” and “Song Of Liberation” written by Nicola Conte, Nicola Loporchio and Siya Makuzeni
“Macumba De Oxalà II” written by Nicola Conte, Nicola Loporchio and Tomaz Di Cunto
Pasquale Calò: Tenor Sax on #1, #9
Magnus Lindgren: Flute on #3; Tenor Sax and Hammond Organ on #10
Giovanni Guidi: Fender Rhodes and Keyboards on #3, #9
Pietro Lussu: Fender Rhodes, Piano, Moog and Keyboards on #5, #6, #7, #8, #11
Dario Bassolino: Fender Rhodes and Minimoog on #3, #4
Gabriel Prado: Percussion on #3, #4, #5, #7, #8, #10
Abdissa Assefa: Percussion on #2, #11
Magnus Lindgren appears courtesy of ACT
Recorded at Acustic Sound Studio, Bari, Italy
Additional recordings at Sorriso Studios, Bari, Italy / Sound Engineer: Tommy Cavalieri
Artwork: Carla Indipendente
Tema Due Logo: Roberta Dispoto
Layout: Eugenio Crippa
supported by 131 fans who also own “Universo Astratto”
Straight up bangers, each one. Feeling connected to “my people” after a long time of musical homesickness. Thank you Baalti & Lapgan team for putting as much as you did into each track. It’s felt. chief-second
supported by 119 fans who also own “Universo Astratto”
The whole album is amazing; this track is its perfect synthesis—spirit, tradition, rhythm. In echoes and aticipates "Si yo fuera" perhaps the most powerful track of this album. derius
Killer Brooklyn label Love Injection crushes it again: The new 12” from John Silas breathes new life into acid jazz. Truly wonderful. Bandcamp New & Notable Jul 31, 2026
Soulful and jazzy three-track 12" from this Croatian producer who combines contemporary house and broken beat styles. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 23, 2025
Vancouver-based producer Jessebru's first LP in 9 years features everything from sunny house music to jazzy electro. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 17, 2020
supported by 113 fans who also own “Universo Astratto”
Shy One has really found the flow on her sophomore album, resulting in a beautiful listen that shows the width of her influences and how effortlessly she navigates between them. Svebbe