Twenty-five years is a long time to be away from releasing music, but clearly, the creative instinct never left. Hailing from Gothenburg, Sweden, Il Coltello is the new electronic identity of Red Mode from 2001. Family life and a catering career eventually took priority, until the pandemic unexpectedly changed the scenery. With the kitchen standing still, it became a recording studio, and even a walk-in fridge was transformed into a vocal booth. It’s an unusual beginning for a new musical chapter, but it reminds us that creativity can find its way into the most unexpected places.
Today, Il Coltello introduces “Let It Pass,” a six-track EP blending soulful sampling, UK garage, breakbeats and contemporary house, wrapped in warm, hypnotic electronic textures. The EP runs for a duration of twenty-three minutes and thirteen seconds, and listeners are in for a treat that will get them hooked throughout. Besides its vibe and soundscape, the most impressive aspect of this EP is that every song is different and offers us some sonic variety that displays IlColtello’s versatility. Stay with me and read my thoughts!
The title track, “Let It Pass,” is undoubtedly the EP’s emotional centrepiece and the song I connected with most. Its message speaks to the quiet strength of letting go, accepting what cannot be changed and refusing to carry every disappointment into tomorrow. The soulful sampling and rolling rhythms create an inviting atmosphere, while the UK garage and deep-house influences give the production an infectious sense of movement. The vocals are particularly important here. Their soulful character, controlled phrasing, and intimate delivery give the track its human touch. Rather than fighting for attention, the vocal elements become part of the instrumental landscape, allowing the message to settle naturally. Suno AI was used to generate vocal elements, while Il Coltello completed the music production, arrangement, sound design, mixing, and final mastering. The result is a carefully shaped electronic piece with warmth, personality, and an understated emotional pull.
The accompanying video for “Let it pass,” inspired by 1970s European espionage films with a surreal science-fiction twist, further establishes Il Coltello as an artist with an eye for atmosphere and storytelling beyond the music itself.
The second song, “Don’t turn around,” carries a more decisive emotional suggestion. The title evokes the moment when looking back becomes less important than protecting the future ahead. I hear it as a reflection on difficult choices, leaving old disappointments where they belong and resisting the temptation to revisit situations that have already run their course. It adds a sense of determination to the EP’s otherwise reflective character.
“Take your time” explores the beauty of slowing down. Its central idea is relevant in a world that constantly demands immediate answers and instant results. Rather than treating patience as hesitation, the song suggests embracing your rhythm, allowing relationships to develop, and giving personal growth the space it deserves. It is a gentle counterpoint to the forward-looking energy of “Don’t Turn Around.”
“Starting up” feels like the most autobiographical title in the collection. After 25 years away from releasing music, starting again switches significantly on the equipment and entering the studio. It represents the excitement, uncertainty, and courage involved in rediscovering an old passion. For the artist, this title reads like a personal statement: the creative journey is not over, and there is still plenty left to say.
“Somewhere before” brings a nostalgic dimension to the EP. The title suggests déjà vu, half-remembered experiences and places that feel strangely familiar even when we cannot explain why. I find the idea fitting for an artist returning to music after such a long interval. It hints at the relationship between past and present, and how certain feelings, melodies, and memories can remain with us long after we believe we have moved on.
Lastly, “Come around” closes the collection with an emotional resolution suggestion. The title brings to mind reconciliation, second chances, and the possibility of finding your way back to someone, something, or even yourself. After the reflections, decisions, and new beginnings suggested by the preceding titles, it feels like a fitting final thought: sometimes life brings us full circle, but we return with a different understanding of what matters.
Production-wise, “Let It Pass” brings together electronic percussion, breakbeat movement, soulful sampling and house-inspired foundations without losing sight of warmth and atmosphere. The arrangements and sound design give the project an identity, while Il Coltello’s hands-on involvement across production, mixing and mastering gives it a personal creative signature.
What makes this release special is the story behind it. This is not just someone returning to music after a long absence. It is someone rediscovering a creative voice, embracing new possibilities and proving that a passion does not necessarily have an expiry date. This return is warmly welcomed. Twenty-five years may have passed, but the timing of this new chapter feels just right. And if “Let It Pass” is any indication of what lies ahead, Il Coltello is a name worth keeping close.
Listen to the “Let It Pass” EP on Spotify
Follow Il Coltello here for more information
