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Band: Cyndies
Album title: Smellin'Burning [EP]
Release date: 7 July 2014
Label: Self-Released
Tracklisting:
01. We Were Lovers
02. MasterWolfe
03. Revolution (Radio Version Cut)
04. Vision In Bangkok (Junkie Version)
If you ever watched the film 24 Hour Party People, then you'll undoubtedly understand what I mean by saying when giving Smellin'Burning the first spin, the thought of that very film popped into my head immediately. In case you haven't, I'll put it briefly: the film revolves around Manchester's popular music community from 1976 to 1992, especially about Factory Records, a label that covered many big names such as Joy Division, New Order and Happy Mondays. Do you see where I am aiming for now?
Emerging from Italy, Cyndies consist of Francis Bottamini on vocals, who is also in charge for the lyrics writing, Gabo on guitar, Riky Darker behind the bass, Phil Sperotto on guitar #2 and synths and Zizzi behind the drums. Their clear vision and mission is to play the most trip-like version of post-punk, with slight modernization. But not the post punk revival modernisation, which has emerged in the mid 00's and brought some famous names into the music game, that are leaning more towards the indie and alternative rock tunes. I'm talking about good, old fashioned, artsy, gloomy post-punk.
Their latest EP with a cryptic title Smellin'Burning consists of 4 tracks and I can't hear or smell anything burning here. The opening "We Were Lovers" is a nice trendsetter for the band's sound, with the pounding bass line, repetitive and minimalistic rhythm entwined with gentle, easy and mesmerizing guitar tunes and darksome, distant vocals. The-art minded approach and deep-toned sound creates an intense feeling of pathos, but just in the right amount, without the feeling they're overdoing it. "MasterWolfe" deepens the strange melancholy and colourless soundscapes even further, whilst "Revolution" – as the name suggests – reclines to more striking pose, but still remains painful and transcendental in its core. The EP's closing chapter, "Vision In Bangkok", is a bit more dark rock influenced; flirting with dark ambient, before striking again with a massive interpretation of despondency.
With only 4 songs and the average length around 3 and a half minutes, everything more I would say, would just be jibber-jabber. It’s very simple with Smellin'Burning: it's short, captivating, eloquent and effective; painted in grey colours and almost pathological melancholy, delivering versatility and consistency at the same time. If you're into old school post-punk or even proto-goth rock bands and not narrow-minded in a sense that nowadays music with such intense entrancing feeling cannot be done, then Cydnies won't disappoint you. With Smellin'Burning they'll cast a spell on your mind, hypnotize you and send your mind on a weird, but pleasant trip through the dark and psychedelic lands of sonic seduction.
Review by: Ines
Rating: 9/10
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