Yama Uba :" Silhouettes"

 

This album came out back in January and has been on my radar, but just got caught up with albums coming my way to check it out. They have captured the sound of the 80s and leaned into their Siouxsie influence, which is a mistake most female-fronted goth bands make. After Savages did that sort of thing so well, there is not a great need to expand upon it, though these gals are a little darker and more synth-based. The second song offers more groove than the first, which goes a long way with me. They creep along with Halloween moods that begin to distance themselves from Siouxsie on "Shatter' which finds more of a hook forming on the chorus and interesting sounds being introduced that are outside of the typical goth revivalist motif. 

They move in a more 45 Grave direction on "Facade". Then things go in a weird direction for "I'm in Love With a German Film Star" as it becomes a Depeche Mode-like new wave ballad. It makes more sense the second time I listen to it than the first it breezed its way into the background. The synths continue to be a dominant presence in the overall sound of  "Isolation" which is darker and works off a haunting single-note guitar melody that hovers as a layer of ambiance. There a hints of Joy Division in the mood without becoming a tribute act. 

Guitar comes to the forefront on "Laura" which takes things in a more post-punk direction. The mix of this album is often the dividing line between this band falling towards darkwave or post-punk, not that who they are changing much otherwise. Here it just allows them to indulge in a darker Cure-like groove. Things turn in a darker direction to find them making the first music that I would call goth, though it was hinted at in some of the songs earlier. "Claustrophobia" is the more original of the two more shadow-infused songs. I will give this album an 8.5, I am not sure how much more time I will spend with this album apart from the time I have already invested in it , but have enjoyed the time I did spend with it and think that kids coming into this sort of thing will enjoy it, as it has already done the homework for them. 

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