Artist: Arctic Plateau
Title: The Enemy Inside
Genre: New Wave / Post-Rock / Shoegaze
Release Date: 17th February 12
Label: Prophecy Production
Album Review
My first listen of the one-man band (formed by Gianluca Divergillo back in 2006), ARCTIC PLATEAU reminded me in an instant of ILIKETRAINS; the slow, progressive and funereal tracks composed with rich, elegant lyrics along with some of the more ambient sounds which very much mirage the likes of Scottish Indie Rock moguls, MOGWAI. The stronger elements of ARCTIC PLATEAU are the instrumental sections of songs, these stand out due to Gianluca Divirgillo’s progression of this one-man project, ARCTIC PLATEAU started off making instrumental songs only until he commenced collaboration with other musicians. Divirgillo is also an author so it’s no surprise that his lyrics are a strength in his more vocal tracks. He describes his music as “Music Explicitly Dreamed”. In relation to that quote, you can adhere to such a profound statement but not when the songs are an amalgamation of dirges that slowly dissipate (quite frankly) after the first 3-4 songs. It is disappointing because ARCTIC PLATEAU has the focus and potential to create some fascinating soundscapes because there are at times some beautiful moments and do have a dream-like quality to them, but they are drowned out by the following lack-lustre tracks.
‘Music’s Like…’ is the first track on the album; it starts with such promise with its atmospheric breaks and haunting guitars that echo endlessly with a suspenseful trepidation, it’s a vast intro, a tone-setter for the rest of the album. That being said, it does not grow into anything, the whole spectrum of the album is messy and dull, there are some interesting moments though like the second track ‘Bambini Piangete’ (that is, however, 30 seconds long and is translated as ‘Children Crying’) that encapsulates a strange foreboding as it simply constructs sounds of distant voices echoing amidst an eerie backing, it very much so composes an intriguing piece - it is in these moments that inherits power and it creates layers but that’s not Divirgillo’s weakness in his musicianship, most of the songs on this album do indeed have layers but never do the songs actually have any form of dramatic release. He constructs, composes and forms the songs near perfect at times but he just doesn’t seem to apply that hair-raising crescendo. The album also fails to invoke much emotion, considering the concept of the album that explores existentialist matters and demons that we all try to conquer in our everyday lives just doesn’t grip the listener firmly enough.
Despite all of its pervasive gloom it does signify that ARCTIC PLATEAU has indeed much talent. Divirgillo’s musical ideas are at a great standard, although in this album there’s plenty of room for more depth, these ‘explicit dreams’ are intriguing but need more scope and character.
Tracklist
01. Music’s Like…
02. Bambini Piangete
03. Idiot Adult
04. Abuse
05. Catarctic Cartoons
06. The Enemy Inside
07. Melancholy Is Not Only For Soldiers
08. Loss and Love
09. Big Fake Brother
10. Wrong
11. Trentasette
Line-up
Gianluca Divergillo – Vocals
Fabio Fraschini – Bass
Massimiliano Chiapperi – Drums
Websites
http://www.arcticplateau.com/index.htm
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 5
Sound: 5
Total: 5 / 10
Buy the album here!
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