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Some people have an aversion to the twee, the excessively sentimental, the sweet and pretty. If you are one of those hard hearted souls then I can tell you straight away that Mediavolo are not for you. Opening song "Treasure Box" has a plaintive acoustic guitar, a little-girl-lost vocal and lyrics that start: 'This is my father here with my mother, me as a child, missing teeth'. However there is an undercurrent indicating that maybe not all is as it seems, hinted at by the line 'If only I could rewrite the story...' The song builds in tempo and volume along the lines of a more melodic Radiohead.
"Dry And Brave" has the deep ominous rumblings of The Cranes, with the delicate female vocals floating high above. Elsewhere "Cavalry Drum" has a delicious mix of quickly strummed acoustic guitar, with a bass guitar taking the lead - which takes me back to the days of Kitchens Of Distinction if they had been fronted by The Sundays' Harriet Wheeler. There's also shimmering electric guitar that sends shivers spineward. Other songs are attractive, but tend to blend into the background. "Black Roses" features a piano, which tethers the song to the earth. "Selling Birds" is much flightier, containing Cocteau Twin-style delights. "The Backroom Of My Mind" is a highlight, mixing quiet echo-laden guitars with heavier torrents of sonic seduction. The closing song "Fanciest Scheme" is a dream-filled world in which to lose yourself. There is a hidden instrumental reprise at the end of the album. This album won't be to everyone's taste, but if you like dark atmospheric indie then you should investigate further. Though inspired by Kafka's Metamorphosis non-Kafka fans will still get maximum enjoyment from this album. |
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