With its icey blue minimalist sleeve-artwork
surrounding thirteen mainly sub-three-minute
ditties, Revelino have produced an album
of tuneful, guitar driven pop with enough
hooks, licks and grooves to mark them out
as instant contenders. A new Dublin combo,
risen from the ashes of The Coletranes, Revelino
will simultaneously make their live debut
with the release of their eponymously-titled
gem. If they can cut it on stage as well
as they do in the studio, they`ll have little
to fear.
A host of influences permeates but doesn't
dominate their sublime tapestry and there
are distinct echoes of the Beatles, Murmur-era
REM (esp. Takin' Turns), classic Brit-Pop
à la Kinks and Squeeze with a nod towards
The Byrds and Beach Boys in the jangly department.
Ultimately though, it's the sheer sonic urgency
that impresses most - the album was recorded
in just ten days, the band obviously confident
in their ability to make a record on instinct.
The opener, 'Happiness is Mine' - a restrained
rocker with a big echoey bass and drum sound
has vocalist Brendan Tallon sounding like
John Lennon on 'Come Together'. 'My Bones'
generates even more heat with a great guitar
riff and 'Hello', the current single, is
as good a calling card for their eloquent
tunesmithery as anything else included here.
On 'World Going Down', the most Kinks-like
track, he even sounds like Ray Davies and
the disonant guitar solo on 'No Forever Girl'
lends an appropriate pyschedelic edge
Tallon writes all the songs too and the sometimes
complex chord progressions belie their straight-forward,
no-nosense execution. From the pleading restraint
of 'Don't Lead Me Down', to the new-wavey
and brilliant 'Libertine' he maintains a
consistent standard without lapsing into
formula. The mood softens on 'She's Got the
Face', a wonderfully atmospheric ballad with
classic status written all over it and a
Crazy-Horse style fuzz tone mood creeps into
'Slave' and the album's closer, 'Tonight'.
All throughout, the rhythm section is rock
solid, the harmonies pristine and the songs
beg for attention. Revelino - doesn't that
mean revelation in Italian? It should! Classy
stuff.
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