Schonwald – Abstraction (Album – Manic Depression Records)
Genre/Influences: Dream-Pop, Dark-Pop, Cold-Wave, Shoegaze.
Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.
Background/Info: Alessandra Gismondi and Luca Bandini are now active under the Schonwald moniker for several years. The Italian duo never stopped gaining new fans and more recognition. “Abstraction” is the band’s fourth album, which is inspired by esoteric hymns, aesthetic mantras, echoes of savage human nature.
Content: If you’re familiar with the work of this band you for sure will immediately recognize their passion for 80s music. The work is a nice fusion between pure darker Dream-Pop, Cold-Wave and Shoegaze. The global work makes me think to an imaginary hybrid between Bauhaus, The Cure and Suicide. Dark and melancholic, Alessandra Gismondi empowers the mood by her sterile way of singing, which here again is pretty 80s like.
+ + + : I’ve always liked the work of this band and Schonwald hasn’t change this sound formula. It seems that they took more care for the technical aspect of the work, but they didn’t lose their skills to write great songs. There’s a true symbiosis between the guitar playing and the electronic arrangements. The album is supported with a dark and desperate mood; it’s the kind of music that will make you dream away, but it’s not what I would call a relaxing experience. Schonwald will bring you to dance on the magic effect of their icy, elevating melodies and the deep, vibrating bass lines. The album is a constant succession of noticeable songs, but “Passion Of Lover” is definitely my favorite one. The title reminds me of Bauhaus and with some imagination you might consider Schonwald as the contemporary and female fronted heritor of Bauhaus. The album is a great and professional production revealing one of the best artists in this genre today.
– – – : Schonwald avoids innovation; it must be voluntary, but I honestly don’t care as this is one of the best productions from the year.
Conclusion: Schonwald confirms to be one of the most talented ‘Post-Punk’ formations of the past years. This is an album I can only but highly recommend!
Best songs: “Passion Of Lover”, “Desert”, “Polar”, “No Return”, “Reflex”, “Violet”, “Fire Fire”.
Rate: (9).
Artist: www.facebook.com/schonwald.music
Label: www.manicdepressionrecords.com / www.facebook.com/manicdepressionrecords
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