If you’re hip, you’ll be familiar with a band called Bellini that put out a CD not too long ago on Temporary Residence. However, if you’re ultra hip, you’ll be familiar with Uzeda, a group based in Italy consisting of the same guitarist and vocalist as Bellini, whose last full-length was 1998’s Different Section Wires.
Though these groups share a distinct “post-rock” style, the edge goes to Uzeda (even with the presence of Damon Che on Bellini’s first full-length Snowing Sun), and that added edge is particularly why I like them.
Vocalist Giovanna Cacciola seems more at home wailing over Uzeda‘s sonic backdrop, often mimicking the atonal, angular, cutting guitar, which sits atop an often repetitious groove created by the bass and drums. When not carrying the weight of the band, the bass and drums get propulsive on tracks like “Gold” and “What I Meant When I Called Your Name,” while “This Heat” and “Time Below Zero” reduce their role to coloring.
Stella is dark and reinforced by Albini’s production techniques, but it certainly has its memorable melodies despite its rather free/experimental approach. Who knows what the future may bring for Uzeda, but this may stand as one of the best releases of the year.
– Tom Youth
Uzeda (Touch and Go Records)