NOSOUND: Scintilla (Kscope) — this actually arrived in the review pile late last year, but fell down the back of the sofa or something. It claims “Post Rock, Shoegaze and Alt-Singer-Songwriters,” but it’s straight-up prog in meandering early ’70s English style, and in particular Pink Floyd before their heads inflated — “widescreen melancholia and wistful imagery,” per the press release. Very long-winded, but a pleasant and often beautiful listen. Above: “Scintilla,” “In Celebration Of Life,” “Emily.”
PORN: The Ogre Inside (Rubicon/Echozone) — French metal, slightly industrial-tinged. Of the ilk of Lacuna Coil, Nightwish, a whacking dose of Type O Negative and similar bands who didn’t make it big too when Evanescence lifted their sound. They’ve brought the riffs, hooks and pop sense with the sound. This is actually pretty good and I’m surprised how accessible I’m finding it. Released 20 October. Above: “Sunset of Cruelty,” the single; they’ve also put up the audio of the whole EP.
STELLARSCOPE: Standing In The Shadow Of Your Ghost (Patetico) — Another review item found behind the sofa. The sound is shoegaze, drenched in noise, echo and reverb, able to realise its sonic ambitions with access to modern equipment that’s so much better than we had thirty years ago. The actual songs are wildly varied. “Don’t Belong” starts proceedings suitably, a slow noisy drone that pretends to be post-rock but isn’t. “Capsized” brings the melody. “All For You” keeps bringing to mind Modern English, though I can’t for the life of me work out which track. The rest is solidly good songs and you should play this through. Above: “Only Strangers Now.”
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