Stella Diana – 57 (CD Album – Vipchoyo Sound Factory)
Genre/Influences: Shoegaze, dream-pop.
Background/Info: Italian formation Stella Diana has been set in 1998. The trio is back on track unleashing their third full length opus to date.
Content: Stella Diana confirms on this album what they stand for: pure shoegaze influences mixed with some dream-pop elements. The opening cut might remind to The Cocteau Twins, but quite rapidly the album moves into the fuzzy guitar playing, which is typical for this kind of music. The songs are switching from sweet melancholia into harder guitar passages finally resulting in a few elevating moments.
+ + + : This work reveals great guitar playing, but I especially like the emotional input emerging from the songs. You feel like floating throughout a dark and melancholic universe till reaching harder passages. The most noticeable cuts are moving into heavy outbursts, creating a truly hypnotic sensation. Songs such as “Iris” and “Elaine” reveals the talent of this formation. Sadness can be that beautiful!
– – – : The songs are however a but similar so the work becomes pretty predictable after a while.
Conclusion: “57” is the perfect symbiosis between dream-pop and shoegaze music. There’s no trace of innovation, but just a cool and honest release in its genre so the fans will be not disappointed.
Best songs: “Elaine”, “Iris”, “Naos”, “Ludwig”.
Rate: (7).
Artist: www.stelladiana.com / www.facebook.com/StellaDianaBand
Label: www.vipchoyo.it / www.facebook.com/vipchoyo
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