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Band: Settore Giada
Album title: Per Elisa
Release date: 14 September 2012
Label: Seahorse Recordings
Tracklisting:
01. Prologo
02. Per Elisa
03. Angelo
04. Distant Places
05. Sogno Lucido
06. Candy
07. Martire
08. Animanera
09. Occhi
10. Epilogo
11. Animanera (Anselm Caminada Remix)
12. Distant Places (Shuffle&Boost Remix)
13. Animanera (Peer Seeman Remix)
14. Distant Places (Me.Man.Machine. Remix)
I believe that many of you sometimes come upon a record that leaves you in a very confused state, and this is the case with this album. While listening to it I found it somehow disturbing, but also at moments sweet and at least to say perverse. There are so many moments that I can only imagine how good that could sound if this or that would be changed or done in a different manner.
Settore Giada is a duo that comes from Switzerland and its music is a brainchild of main man Ali Salvioni, who is responsible for vocals, bass, hang and drum programming, real drums are handled by Alan Bagge. The musical output the two make is minimalistic, mostly bass and drum driven post-punk, with some pop, ambiental and "retro" wave imprints.
In between mystical prologue and epilogue there are eight experimental tracks, mostly slow paced, still with some great atmospheric moments. Most of the songs have lyrics in Italian language, with only two in English. The approach that Settore Giada uses is kind of alternative recitation with before mentioned musical background. I have no complaints regarding the instrumental side, strong, yet tender bass lines that lead the songs and drums that fill up the sound, sometimes even taking the main role. Ambiental sounds that the band wisely inserts here and there add the right dose of melancholy and gloomy atmosphere into the music, just listen to "Angelo". Songs like "Distant Places", "Animanera" or "Sogno Lucido" gave me some really difficult moments, as those are unnecessary hearing system torturers. On the other side the stand-out song "Candy" is one really surprising relaxing post-rock/wave/pop song with great captivating guitar lead played by guest Teo Buvoli and good vocal job, this time Settore Giada kicks with upbeat tempo, catchy vocals and nice melodic lines. The songs have some kind of psychedelic note, sometimes everything works out like some kind of lullaby for a institutionalized madman.
The real problem here are the vocals. Except in "Candy" and in other various tiny moments, Ali Salvioni's reciting, spoken vocals are terribly out of contest with the sole music and I can just imagine how much better, listenable and flowing this album could be with a different vocal job, more passionate, deep,... Even his tone and voice colour is inappropriate for this kind of music or simply not good enough. On the other hand if I disregard the vocals from other instruments the things become much better, but still no more than just a background music.
On the album you can find also two remixes of song "Animanera" and two of "Distant Places", which in my opinion sound better than originals. Production is good and album has a very nice layout, but I believe that we should wait for the bands future releases and see if they'll change that something into more flowing and bereable soundscape. Fans of Italian post-punk from 80's, Pixies, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails and Babes In Toyland should give this release a try.
Review written by: T.V.
Rating: 6,5/10
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