Collecting, Volume 1

Released in early 2019, Collecting, Volume 1 serves as a definitive introduction to Koralle's signature blend of Italian jazz sensibilities and classic boom bap architecture. While many artists in the lo-fi hip-hop explosion of the late 2010s leaned into ambient textures, Koralle maintained a sharper focus on the 'beat' aspect, utilizing crisp snares and resonant kicks that recall the golden era of 90s underground hip-hop. The EP is composed of six short vignettes, none exceeding three minutes, which gives the project a sketchbook-like quality. Each track explores a singular melodic idea, usually centered around clean electric guitar or Rhodes-style keys, processed through a warm analog chain. Critically, the album is noted for its high production value within the lo-fi scene, eschewing muddy mixes for a clear but 'dusty' sonic profile. It established Koralle as a key figure in the European instrumental hip-hop scene, bridging the gap between chill-hop playlists and serious jazz-fusion appreciation.