Title: 04/07
Artist: Noctiflora
Genre: Dark Wave
Release Date: 20th June 2008
Label: AF Music
Album Review
NOCTIFLORA appears on the scenery, when its founder Arios wants to start a new project just for the sake of making music, aside from any commercial musical schemes. The line-up expanded constantly, the first result in the shape of the Demo EP ‘Notte Fiorire’ was released in January 2005, followed by the first album ‘Edward’ in June 2006, after a period of studio work ‘04/07’ serves as a Best-Of, which is to represent the work of the band in the past few years.
The style, which we get to hear on ‘04/07’ is an organic / electronic Dark Wave hybrid with a core made of melancholic moods, which are revealed in various intensities throughout the release. The also appear in different forms. Sometimes they’re just simple, guitar chords, which create a dense atmosphere; then again mighty walls of synthesized string arrangements and pads build up to get you carried away. Rhythm-wise, this band unites electronic beats with organic drums. Those transitions are coming quite abrupt sometimes, on tracks like ‘Violet’ for instance, the transition is more fluent and blends these contrasting elements perfectly together. That you’re not limited to electronic means, when it comes to playful rhythms shows the second track ‘Pan’ with wonderfully complex drum work that turns into e purely electronic beat in the later course. The chant is divided between male and female parts, whereas the male voice is more present than its female equivalent. Mostly they come clean out of the speakers, no problem in this case, as the singer’s voice doesn’t have to hide behind a pile of electronic effects. This small collection of songs calmly dies away with the sloe balladry track ‘Notti’.
A pretty quiet collection of songs of the Italian formation is presented on this release and though I’m a huge fan of quiet compositions, one or the other faster song would have provided for a bit more diversion and the voices should be a little bit more prominent, as it’s a little bit hard to understand them sometimes.
Tracklist
01. Ogham - 2:36
02. Pan - 5:56
03. Neorama - 6:33
04. Violet - 3:17
05. Magnolia - 5:12
06. Nevischio - 4:36
07. Notti - 4:51
Line-up
Arios
S.Princess
Website
http://www.noctiflora.net/ / http://www.myspace.com/noctiflora
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 7
Sound: 7
Extras: -
Total: 7
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