In 2005, Riccardo Prencipe began his Italy-based solo project, the neoclassical Corde Oblique, with the release of the album, Respiri. The contributions from a variety of female vocalists give the group a layered sound of ethereal voices on top of subtly dark instrumentation. Vocalists Caterina Pontradolfo has appeared on all four Core Oblique albums, including the group's 2011 release, A Hail of Bitter Almonds.