I've seen the evolution of Baby Schillaci, named for Salvatore "Toto" Schillaci who recently passed away, they too cane a surprise the first time I saw them and changed into one of the most exciting acts in the South Wales scene. This genre bending fourpiece have got an EP behind them, a glut of singles and aiplay on BBC 6Music and Radio Wales, and shows all over the place all greeted with positive feedback back, especially from this publication.
So they now present their debut full length album, The Soundtrack, a collection of alt/noise/grunge rippers that come from the 90's scene spawned from record labels such as Sub Pop and Dischord, the influences of post-punk, noise, hardcore and alternative rock are all present as Baby Schillaci's style are heard in fellow Welsh act Mclusky, early Manics and Public Image Limited, the latter plainly obvious on acerbic and cleverly used lyrics of The Anti Suncream League.
Building on fuzzy bass lines, a twin vocal approach and jagged riffs Baby Schillaci set out with strong noisy punk rocking, but as this album is sequenced like it's a soundtrack to a non existent B-Movie after the intermission, it gets darker with the hallucinogenic QOTSA-like smoulder of Disintegrating Small Talk while Jackie's Girl unleashes a bit of rock god guitar playing. The latter side of this album is the main meat of it, while the first part is punky and aggressive, this second half is where they become more experimental and unhinged. Putting a Metallica riff alongside an electronic drum beat and Stone Temple Pilots attitude on Kumite for instance.
As vibrant, vital and vicious as their live show, The Soundtrack will lead Baby Schillaci to be as recognised and revered as their namesake. 9/10
Bobbie Dazzle - Fandabidozi (Rise Above Records)
If you can get past the title without thinking of The Krankies you're a better man than I. But that's the sort of retro vibe we're after with this debut from Bobbie Dazzle is the alter ego of now former Alunah vocalist Siân Greenway who gets out the velour catsuits and stacked heels to be, well herself, yes it's a nom de plume but this style of glammy pop rock is how Siân was brought up, a house filled with the likes of Bowie, T.Rex, Suzi Quatro and The Sweet, by way of a punk rock father and a glam rock mother.
Bobbie Dazzle come from a place of healing, an escape for when Greenway's sister passed away, it inspired a journey towards rediscovering this music, Lighting Fantasy, which brings a piledriving groove of Status Quo, features lyrics actually written by her father years ago so there's a huge amount her personality infused into this record. From the whimsical Merry Go Round there's a bit of a freak flag flying on Revolution while Magic Of Music adds some 60's whimsy to this glam rock soup closing the first side one.
It's supposed to be an album to enjoy and you can't help but enjoy the Mott The Hoople-like stomp of Back To The City, a track that just needs some Bowie backing vocals, It's Electric adds the rock as Lady On Fire is bristling with organs climaxing on Flowers On Mars the spacey closer of this retro fun fest. You can hear how comfortable Greenway is in her new persona, expect more Dazzle from Bobbie soon. 9/10
Oneiros - Ruminations (Matriarch Records)
Derbyshire is the home of metal in many ways (Hello Bloodstock) so from it's forests green, by way of ambient sounds picked up from Yellowstone National Park, comes a new black metal project Oneiros. In the studio this is all the work of Alex Wills, he plays guitar/bass/synth provides the vocals so the bulk of the music Jonathon Salisbury of Gargantua Sounds Studios played the drums/mixed/mastered the record.
Oneiros was actually brought to my attention by Ofnus drummer Ethan who has joined the band as live drummer for shows, so it seems Alex will be playing these songs live and it sounds like they were written for just that. Also with the speed of the drumming and guitars from the first track The Greater Will, it seems all involved will be knackered. Atmospheric in parts, due melancholic in others Oneiros favours the type of black metal that features varied vocals (black and death) and more than just frigid tremolo picking, be it the grinding groove on Sun Gazer or the atmospheric doom tendencies of The Age Of Stars as layered acoustics lead the outro.
Oneiros have enough creativity on Ruminations to help then stand out from the many modern black metal creators. I'm looking forward to seeing it on stage. 8/10
Stains Of Amber - No One Will Ever Be This Cool Again (Self Released)
Oh yeah that's cool daddio, a slow burning, echoed, desert rock guitar riff that just builds well countered by the tidal sounding cymbals. The noise builds the layers get thicker and we're off on the journey with Athens based rockers Stains Of Amber.
Formed in 2014, this album is their debut and a collection of songs written over the last decade. This trio play live, loud and raw, coming from desert rock influence of slowly unfolding psychedelics, anchored by a groove from bassist/vocalist Stam and the steady, solid drumbeats of Marios, this debut continues the moody grooves on Red Elephant the first song proper. Jordan's guitar shining bright with a strong blues base to it.
This is obvious on the whole album even when they manage to get a bit faster with Summer, a song that for me sounds like 1000mods, these mighty groovers are a bit sparse on the record which prefers to be in the swirling psych sound, playing with silence and sound well. If you like hallucinogenic dreamscapes that occasionally quickens into fuzzy grooves then Stains Of Amber will be for you. For fans of Planet Of Zeus, 1000mods and Naxatras. 7/10
No comments:
Post a Comment