lb08 reviews



		DEEP END tsunami MCD Rossano Lo Mele, Rumore magazine A good and suggestive band, Deep End can only be blamed for releasing a debut EP instead of a full length. Anyway: Slint, Van Pelt, Blonde Redhead, Don Caballero, Karate, Lapse. If these names tell you something, you should know that Deep End are up there with them. (top) Geekamerica webzine Grade: B. I have never heard Sharks Keep Moving, but I think that these guys sound alot like them. Sorta jazzy and minimal indie with little or no vocals. This is what fugazi will sound like when they get old. Wait, they are old, I ment to say, this is like what "easy listening" means to the indie scene, kinda like what they will play in the elevator at the new Indie Rock Hotel. Quite an elevator indeed! (top) Suburbia webzine If this was Chicago, this band would enter the post-rock panorama directly from the front door. But we don't have to move to the United States to find that kind of band, Alessandria is enough to meet Deep End and their "Tsunami" mini-cd on Love Boat. The first thing we notice is the absence of a bass guitar, but the choice of two guitars and a drumset seems the most appropriate for the band's musical direction. The sounds are raw and close to the kind of math rock that made Don Caballero famous. But the best comparison would be with the Louisville sound and with June Of 44. "You Wash, Ill Dry", the first track, reminds the dense tension created by Jeff Mueller's band, but it's the somewhat claustrophobic instrumental "Niece Walker" and the dreamy "Match Lighter" that really impress me, creating intriguing atmospheres of rare beauty. "Hey WimÖTurn The Freezer Off", the last song, makes "Tsunami" a small (too smallÖ) pearl that should belong in every house where bands like Tristeza and Van Pelt, with the already mentioned Don Caballero and June Of 44, are played. I can't help but suggest you to search for Deep End, their mini-album and their live shows. If you've lost faith in the italian underground, you'll get an immediate breath of fresh air. If you're on the optimistic side, you'll get another confirmation. (top) Slide The Needle webzine Smart timing indie rock pop here with minimal vocals (that sound French or something but arenít, I donít think) but are used in well deserved moments. Twangy guitars and plenty of stop and go motions to the songs along with well put musically talented trickery. This stuff has got some good groove going on . Sampling and what not are involved. Why is it most of the EPs are the best of the bunch with in CDís? Keep an eyes on these guys, I have a feeling they are going to be making an impression on the states soon. Very Recommended. (top) Sergio Eletto, Kathodik Webzine Tsunami, oltre ad essere il nome della famosa indie band americana, capitanata da Jemmy Toomey e Kristin Thomson, in giapponese sta ad indicare un‘onda anomala, un vortice, un cavallone mastodontico….per questo i tre piemontesi Andrea, Lolli e Umberto hanno scelto, capovolgendo maliziosamente le parti, di intitolare la loro formazione. Opps…spieghiamoci meglio. “Tsunami” è il titolo di questo ep uscito per la ‘Love Boat’ di Andrea Pomini ed i fautori si sono presentati sotto le spoglie di Deep End (album passato della band di Arlinghton)...in conclusione oltre a sprigionare la devozione per i suddetti, coagulano in 14 minuti di musica, tutto l’anomalo che è ruotato negli ultimi anni nel rock (Slint, Don Caballero & Co.). Anche se, nelle dovute presentazioni, i propri riferimenti vanno a June Of 44 e Karate con un trait d’union che si presenta in: un suono dinamico e sognante…tagliente generato da continui intrecci di chitarra retti da una solida batteria. Sotto e fuggi chitarristici psych si crogiolano su rullanti elastici, controtempi non violenti aprono in You Wash, I’ll Dry. Il gioco è fatto...Niece Walker, ma specialmente la suite in Match Lighter sfianca il loro passato nei ranghi del hardcore con i Burning Defeat. Anche se viene facile balbettare la parolina Post, il pop si forma in progress plasmando la materia a suo piacimento. Tutto è godibile, piacevole da far girare la manopola del volume verso su, quindi un full lenght sarebbe stato maggiormente gradito…solo che si sa: i sacrifici non sono pochi. (top) Stefano Paternoster, Equilibrio Precario magazine Melodies chiseled on geometric patterns, played with a gentle and quiet touch. Playing with labels, we could define this indie, thought with a math mind and played with a post touch, all rock of course. Deep End's geometries are not devoid of edges, but their edges seem made not to bite but to tickle instead, sending a few shivers down the spine. They recall Van Pelt's emotive melodies, June Of 44's rhythmic pulse and Paul Newman's control. An intelligent display of heart and form. (top) Alessandro Mattiuzzo, MusicbOOm Webzine Ci sono dischi belli che regalano belle sensazioni. E magari sono nascosti nel sottosuolo della musica d'italia. Eccoli qua, i Deep End. Post rock suonato con maestria, il che significa non solo lunghe composizioni strumentali, ma vere canzoni con voce e testo, canzoni belle, cantate bene, emozionali, intinte in salsa june of 44, e cosparse di fugazi. Questo fanno i Deep End, e anche di più. 4 pezzi soltanto. 4 delizie per le orecchie. 4 perle coltivate in sala prove ed esposte alla luce del sole nel momento della maggior brillantezza. Voci cantate, in you wash, i'll dry, match-lighter Voci raccolte, in niece walker Entrambe le cose in hey wim... turn the freezer off Bassi, chitarre, batterie, arpeggi, armonici. Maestria americana, sensibilità torinese. Meraviglia. (top) I-Dbox Webzine Quattro eclettici musicisti, due dei quali membri dei Burning Defeat fino alla seconda metà dei 90 (in quegli anni, la band più importante uscita dalla scena post-hardcore italica), convergono in questa atipica esperienza musicale (l’aggettivo “atipico” lo riservo per quel che riguarda la scena musicale notrana). Potrei scatenare le ire di qualcuno definendo il genere musicale nel quale si cimentano i Deep End “post-rock”. Ci terrei, tuttavia, a sottolineare che di certo gruppi come June of 44 (soprattutto quelli più recenti di “Anhata”), gli Unwound, per certi versi, e gli Slint hanno rappresentato grandi punti di riferimento per la band. “Tsunami” è un gioiello in formato “mignon” (purtroppo! ndf): un mini su scala ridotta di quelle che sono le enormi potenzialità dei quattro. Un piccolo capolavoro che lascia da subito trasparire una grande personalità. Le influenze musicali sopraccitate convergono verso un suono originale, dai tratti freschi e ariosi, godibile al 100%: un concentrato di atmosfere delicate create dagli intrecci di chitarra del duo formato da Andrea e Lolly (anima più rumorista del gruppo che si prende la responsabilità di movimentare le esecuzioni, “impedendo al gruppo di dedicarsi a pipposissime suite” e di decadere in virtuosismi senza senso) e ritmiche di batteria ben architettate e coinvolgenti. Anche le parti vocali, aggiunte in una seconda fase di mixaggio sulle parti strumentali già registrate, risultano ben amalgamate al tutto. Riscopriamo sfumature più emotive in “Match Lighter” e “Hey wim… turn the freezer off”e parentesi più dolci in “You wash, I’lldry”. Tecnicamente i quattro ci sanno fare e l’esperienza di un passato musicale attivo e appassionato si palesa nel maturo songwriting. Certe melodie di questo e.p. si fissano nella mente ed è difficile restare distaccati durante l’ascolto. La delicatezza di tracce come “Niece walker”, solo strumentale, è estremamente appassionante; mentre un brano come “Hey wim… turn the freezer off” mi riporta alla mente certi lavori dei Blonde Redhead. Si potrebbe dunque parlare di una sorta di modernariato rock, ma fuori dalle righe: gradevole, delicato e indubbiamente raffinato. Deep End è un gruppo con ampie possibilità di crescita e valorizzazione da parte di un pubblico che di una band apprezza soprattutto originalità e vocazioni anticonformiste. (top) Gilles Nicoli, Movimenta webzine Innanzitutto, per chi non lo avesse già notato, iniziamo con una curiosità: se proviamo a ribaltare il rapporto tra nome del gruppo e nome dell'album, scopriamo che Deep end è l'album d'esordio dei Tsunami, gruppo indie-rock statunitense, tutt'altro che di secondaria importanza. In questo caso, invece, Tsunami è un vecchio demo dei Deep end, contenente cinque tracce, che viene ora ristampato dalla Love boat con un suono migliore, ed una traccia in meno. Il trio dimostra qui di recuperare l'aspetto emotivo del math-rock, che in questi ultimi dieci anni, si è andato del tutto disperdendo, a favore di un approccio sempre più freddo e schematico (ma non per questo privo di fascino, e il disco d'esordio dei 90 day man sta lì a dimostrarlo): i Deep end tornano alle radici di questo processo, e recuperano i suoni di June of 44 e Karate inizio anni '90, e per quanto riguarda la voce, persino dei Sea and cake; ed il risultato, i quattro brani di questo Tsunami, merita davvero di essere ascoltato." (top) In Your Eyes webzine 8th release for Andrea's label, following bands such as Altro, Frammenti and Nuvolablu between others; all of them always left a mark (on me, at least). Getting to the point, Deep End is 2/3 Burning Defeat and gives us four tracks of very good rock stature... post-rock, call it what you want. Melodies, songs built on catchy intertwining guitar patterns and no bass guitar. Some names, well... it's not easy. Fugazi, Karate and many others, but no stereotypes here, and this is what really makes them one of the most interesting italian bands right now. I hope to see them live soon and confirm the excellent impression this mini-cd left me. (top) HeartattaCk magazine Airy, trancelike, and smoothly flowing math rock from Italy, that falls somewhere in between June Of 44 and Cerberus Shoal. I put this on while I was stuffing records and it kept me moving at a steady pace without causing me to become too engaged in the music, yet I never stopped to change the CD out of boredom and that sums it up enough for me. (top) Dave Stockwel, Do Something Pretty webzine The power and weight of patience is sometimes immeasurable. This Italian trio, consisting of two electric guitars and one drumkit, make spare and spacious music in a comfortably snug setting. With the occasional addition of well-timed and thoughtful lyrics, the four tracks display a band of friends well informed about the value of subtlety, delivery and dynamics. Shifting and shuffling drums support intertwining guitar lines and chords, winding melodies tightly around bold emotional strokes. All of which adds up to some very thoughtful post-hardcore “instrumental rock with lyrics.” Every intention behind every note here feels considered and pondered over in order to achieve maximum effect, and the execution of it all is deeply impressive. Listening to these four tracks, you feel that Deep End’s name is well chosen, given their commitment to stirring their audience into both thought and visceral emotion. The eighteen minutes of measured music found here is precise, pleasing and occasionally even pop, with their more straightforward moments dominating your memories of the songs. (top) Andy, Melted Snow Records Hi Andrea, just wanted to let you know that I'm playing Deep End quite a lot. Andrea's vocals are good (Is this you?!). His voice reminds me of a guy called Ricky Ross who fronted a band called Deacon Blue in the late 80s / early 90s. They were a Scottish band who became really big in the UK. It's not the music that reminds me of Deacon Blue - just the voice, in places, especially on "You Wash, I'll Dry", my favourite song. The other songs are good too and there is a certain warmth to them, even without bass guitar. I'm going to take the CD to Dublin on Thursday. We (Melted Snow) are having a launch party there, for the Saso album. I think Jim (Saso) will like it. (top) Fracture magazine Not sure as to why they have named themselves after a Tsunami album and why this 4 track EP is called what it is, some bizarre italian in-joke? Who knows. Anyway, here are four mellow tracks that have got to be heavily influenced by Karate as this is very similar shit. It's pleasant enough and has it's moments but it's remarkably unmemorable. Didn't set my pants on fire but if you enjoy noodly post rock then there might be something here for you. (top) Shove webzine ... uhm... no... well, yes... wait... eh... I kinda feel like when you're doing an exam and they ask you something that wasn't on the book. My local friends Deep End confused me. Not that I hate their cd, but it's just a little too much outside of my taste. They play math rock (you should ask know-it-alls at "Blow Up" to know what that is...)... the only thing I know is that it's kinda weird relaxing music, that made me think of an imaginary soundtrack for a movie. I can't come up with more than this. Being ignorant feels bad..." (top) Collective Webzine Man, I am going to find reviewing difficult this evening as all I have in my head is this tune that plays over and over on Morrowind - the computer game I have wasted my day playing. What a loser. Anyways, Deep End. This is an Italian post-rock type band, with lots of jangly guitars that twinkle away prettily in an Aerial M vein and subdued vocals. The rhythms are occasionally mathy, but never to the level where you pull out your slide rule and use it as a baton on the speakers. As the bio sheet points out, they sound a lot like an instrumental band, except someon makes words. Which is good! I am quite bored of this sort of thing done instrumentally unless it is awesome, so it's good to hear Deep End throw a little extra into the mix - it's kind of like Paul Newman (but with singing), or Month of Birthdays. And the vocals sort of remind me of Giants Chair, but with an accent. And they do it really well over the course of this EP. It's tuneful and laidback, feeling very warm. They do have times where they don't do words though. "Niece Walker" has some extra mechanical sound effects thrown - not sure what it is though. All in all a decent little release. Good un! (top) Alessio Bosco, Succoacido magazine Ci scusiamo da subito per il notevole ritardo con cui ci stiamo occupando di questo mini-cd, uscito, ormai, più di un anno fa. Sarebbe stato davvero un sacrilegio, però, disinteressarsi di un lavoro come questo degli italianissimi Deep End. Partendo da un suono di matrice Slint-June of’44, il gruppo approda di volta in volta a soluzioni fresche e personali (Heyb wim… turn the freezer off), dalle strutture complesse ed articolate, tra continui cambi di tempo ed atmosfera. A sorreggere gli intrecci armonici delle chitarre, una sezione ritmica attenta e potente, ancorché nervosissima, tutta stacchi e brusche ripartenze (Match-lighter). Su tutto la voce che, seppur usata in modo quasi complementare alla musica, al punto da far definire dagli stessi Deep End il proprio stile "Musica strumentale cantata", riesce a ritagliarsi un ruolo molto forte nella definizione del suono complessivo (You wash, I’ll dry). Un lavoro onesto, forte della sua umiltà, registrato "live in studio", una spanna sopra i tanti pallidi imitatori dello stereotipo Louisville. Un plauso alla sempre attenta Love Boat records. (top) Ferruccio Quercetti, Music Club magazine Their music relies on guitar interplay and discrete rhythms, producing melodies insipired by the best names of the american melodic post-punk underground of the nineties. The singing takes all in a pop direction, and allows the trio to escape the instrumental quicksand often affecting the genre. All in foru tracks that could have been conceived in Chicago, Louisville or New York. But the good thing is that Deep End is from Alessandria, proving once more that geographic distances are nothing more than mere data and that some melodic suggestions really know no borders. (top)	Collective Do Something Pretty Equilibrio Precario Fracture Geekamerica HeartattaCk I-DBox In Your Eyes Melted Snow Records Movimenta MusicbOOm MusicClub Rumore Shove Slide The Needle Suburbia Succoacido There's no need to write for a magazine: wanna send your review? Do it! Seen a review for this release that still isn't reprinted here? Write us!