|
Review by Paolo Carnelli
-Rome-
It begins like a GY!BE’s album, radio recordings and sound fragments that compose a hypnotic patchwork, this St. Valentine’s Porno Bar by Venetian band HYPNOISE. But this is just the key to get into the place, the universe is waiting for us behind the door of the imaginary bar that titles the album, and is anything but untouchable. Breathe the smoke and sweat; the barman is the kind of person you wouldn’t like to meet but the bar is overflowing with people. The right soundtrack for this kind of trip down to hell, Hypnoise’s music is a swim in the ‘60s psychedelic rock of the Doors, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, soul, the blues and acid rock.
P. Mike III (guitars and vocals), Frez (drums) and Sanze (bass) recreate those atmospheres starting with the strength of the Power Trio, fitting notes together like in a clockwork bomb puzzle: nothing’s in the wrong place.
Karate, Cancer, Conspiracy and Black Heart Procession tried to do this but with less coherence and clarity.
St. Valentine’s Porno Bar is a cup of rum to drink in one shot. It’s a trip to the international alternative rock world. Of course, part of it is due to Ronan Chris Murphy’s artistic production - in his curriculum collaborations with Fripp and King Crimson, playing guitar as special guest here on one track - musically speaking the guys show us they know exactly what they want: the album has been recorded with analog devices like an eight track reel to reel machine, an old Neumann U47, tube tape machines, tape echoes and classic Italian Radios from 1935.
Even the locations for the recording are pretty unique: St. Valentine’s Porno Bar has been recorded in a 17th century Villa, a 13th century church and in the street and canals of Venice. The result is a sound stuck in time where music is accompanied and introduced by unusual sonic choices such as Gospel choirs, radio fragments and spoken parts. Visionary notes to describe a story Hypnoise calls on the amazing cover a “Novella in sounds”.
Final landing with the slow swing of “The Ocean”, a gift to the traveler/listener: a sensational intro, progressive, symphonic; a sparkling abyss opens before our eyes with its tiny light along a humid and mysterious trail. Well done Hypnoise. Strawberry and blood. (P.C.)
Hypnoise on My Space: www.myspace.com/hypnoise
|
|
|
