And when we’re sleeping the cash will flow
From the millions to the few
And it’s so easy to be blind
And just say that you don’t know
Milan psych-rock outfit LATO, born from a deep-rooted underground scene, has evolved into a band with a sophisticated and profoundly expressive sound. LATO intertwines vocals, guitar, and bass grooves with hints of electronica while diverse, multicultural elements borrowed here and there and a flair for lush psychedelia and a suave 60s rock foundation coexist harmoniously.

The most recent album released by the band, titled “Karisma,” is a concept album characterized by a distinctive sound that embodies the distilled essence of the band’s live performances. The record explores the various facets of charisma, ranging from swagger and solidarity to seduction and even the most sordid ways people in society can influence and captivate eachother. The songs featured in the album flow seamlessly, with their mood, melody, atmosphere, and their vivid imagery, floating over a backdrop of elemental rhythms.

“This time it all started from the groove,” says the band. “The songs slowly took shape, it was the rhythm that guided us. It felt like the melodies needed a solid base to hang on to.”

Soul For Blood kicks off the album, driven by a deep, soulful sax that lays a foundation for the lyrics’ exploration of struggle and the quest for freedom. The imagery of reaching a metaphorical sea, signifying liberation, sets a poignant tone. The album shifts gears with Certainty and Disenchantment, where rolling drums punctuate a dynamic exploration of the clash between wonder and certainty. It probes beneath superficial experiences, delving into the emotional depths of relationships and passion.

Millions of Us strikes with a jazzy eeriness that nods to Bowie’s Blackstar, critiquing the stark wealth divide and the effortless flow of riches from the many to the privileged few. It starkly highlights the massive accumulation of wealth, the passivity of potential challengers, and the widespread complacency towards economic disparity.

In Stars Spangling, making a strong nod to Echo & the Bunnymen, themes of personal liberation, reflection, and renewal are prominent as the song reflects on breaking free from historical constraints and reaching a state of peace and joy. The lyric about the “electricity of humans” moving eastward introduces a concept of collective human progress and shifting energies.

Conversely, Triangular explores a tense and introspective encounter with someone who has undergone a significant transformation. This change leads to a profound and emotionally charged impact, vividly described through the metaphorical “triangle of love, life, and death,” which suggests deep emotional conflict and transformation driven by both love and existential threats.

Hole In My Head grapples with themes of emptiness and despair, depicted through the powerful image of a growing hole in the protagonist’s head. The track, which at times sounds like a lost Eels song, articulates the challenges of dealing with unresolved issues and ephemeral dreams, which compound feelings of being overwhelmed and isolated. Next comes Diamonds, which paints a poignant picture of an unrelenting quest for happiness. The lyrics capture a struggle, where hope and despair intermingle, illustrating a journey back from lost paths to a metaphorical sea.

Deep confronts deep-seated fears and destructive habits, highlighting the challenge of recognizing and addressing one’s flaws. It culminates in a call for mutual support, emphasizing the power of connection in overcoming personal crises. Finally, Dancing With Decadence explores themes of disillusionment and betrayal, framed by a backdrop of festering relationships and societal decay. Its dark tone captures the transformation of innocence into something more sinister, as utensils become weapons and prophets lose their messages.

Listen to Karima below, and order the album here.

Karisma by LATO

Karisma was recorded in Milan at Mauro Pagani’s Officine Meccaniche studio and co-produced by LATO along with Antonio “Cooper” Cupertino at San Pedro Studio. The album will be released exclusively in the new “Sound Book” format, a visual booklet that can be combined with the digital version available on Bandcamp.

Follow LATO:

Website
Bandcamp
Instagram
Facebook
Spotify
YouTube

The post Listen to Milanese Psych Rock Outfit LATO’s Captivating Concept Album “Karisma” appeared first on Post-Punk.com.

Source: Post-Punk.com

 
To record an album with an orchestra… such has been a longtime dream of Adrian Hates, who now gets to see it fulfilled with the announcement of Under a Timeless Spell, the latest effort from Diary of Dreams. Recorded with the Leipzig Philharmonic, the album features 10 classic tracks from throughout the German industrial/darkwave outfit’s history [..]

Source: RE:GEN Mag

Like a song stuck on repeat, the presence of an ex-lover lingers, invasive and unbidden. Each reappearance stirs old emotions, disrupting any newfound peace. Their shadow flickers across every day, a constant reminder of what was, turning brief encounters into enduring echoes. It’s a cycle of unwanted reconnections, where the past clings tightly, refusing to let go, ensnaring the psyche in a perpetual loop of what could have been – sweetly sung by an angelic voice.

Haunted, by Los Angeles synth duo Covstline, delivers an unyielding portrayal of an ex-lover’s constant reappearance, melded seamlessly with dark electronic synthesizers and infectious beats. The band draws heavily on 80s influences, infusing their tracks with a punk vocal edge that transports listeners to an entirely different dimension or a different time, like the spectral trip-hop of Massive Attack or Portishead.

Producer and EDM artist Evan Kinzer, known as Left Unsaid, ingeniously combines modern electronic flourishes with quintessential 80s drums and synths, resulting in a vibrant, upbeat sound. Vocalist Saul Tajonar, stage-named Salty, injects each song with unmistakable rockstar vigor. Haunted features eerie, echoing loops and a distinctive mix of vocal tones that underscore the theme of inescapable past connections. This song represents a bold new phase for Covstline, diverging from their previous experiments with indie, punk, and pop to forge a fresh, edgy sound.

The band muses, “With Haunted, we really started honing in on our stylistic preferences by emphasizing an eerie atmosphere, bleak lyrics of betrayal with a strong delivery, and, of course, drums that will make you want to get up and go crazy on the dance floor!”

Listen to “Haunted” below”

Haunted by Covstline

Follow Covstline:

Instagram
YouTube
Bandcamp
Spotify

The post Los Angeles Duo Covstline Debut Synth Noir Single “Haunted” appeared first on Post-Punk.com.

Source: Post-Punk.com

 
Martin Kanja has earned a notable reputation as the vocalist for Kenyan electro/grindcore act Duma, performing throughout Europe and the U.S., and bridging the gaps between electronic, metal, and African heavy music for the past 10 years. Now picking up where Duma left off, the artist is striking out on his own [..]

Source: RE:GEN Mag

 
Marjana Semkina has revealed the music video for “Pygmalion,” the latest single from her forthcoming solo effort, Sirin. Calling the song a metaphor for damaged relationships and the misplaced efforts put into repairing them, Semkina has dedicated “Pygmalion” to an ex [..]

Source: RE:GEN Mag