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Luno - Litato


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Czech quartet Luno founded in 2009, defining their music as psycho pop, nails into ground by using a range of subtle spectrum of sounds, that are associated with tones contained in their publications, being one of the most noteworthy groups of modern experimental rock scene. On issued in 2011 EP - successor to their debut album - with sonorous title of "Litato" you can trace influences of genres and styles such as ethereal, darkwave, trip hop or psychedelic.

Band consists of musicians that are present on the Czech scene for a long time (Ema Brabcová along with formation Khoiba had the praiseworthy honor to support The Cure), who did not opt for the cheap claptrap, using their certainly rich skills, but they focus on creating remarkable, carefully thought out and compelling attention compositions, that together with the magical tone of female singer's voice are breathtaking. Despite this cost effective measures, from each sound comes musical talent and experience, that make you bow your head in front of the entire four.

Word "litato" is a derivative of the Latin "litatus", which has to do with a promise of favorable omens, making it ideal not only for the presented musical form, but also refers to the four noteworthy lyrics contained in a matter of the album - each of them is either a desire to repair the disappointing past, or the answer for a brighter way.
EP consists of two parts – firstly the listener gets acquainted with full, guitar versions of tracks, then compares them with the acoustic band’s face. These two acts with changed direction or two sides of the mirror, on one of them life is full of onirism, on the other - safer, stronger. However, on the surface falls and reflects in its reflections, passing each of the sides in equal measure, silvery moonlight – it is the voice of Ema Brabcová. Ethereal - suspended in transmission, penetrating it, but elusive, almost angelic, illuminating space, when only it comes out from behind the clouds. Enchanting, hypnotizing, it is a spell, for which it is hard not to follow, just as fabulous as the voice of Björk, but more balanced, less affected, and with more layers of the primordial melancholy.

Kept in a style of a raw, psychedelic trip hop filled with melancholy is content that starts the title track - the group tempts to play with words, because "litato" turns out to be a phonetic name form of the one who is presented in lyric – a symbol. Just the first, sparing sounds introduce listener into a trance, and when Ema’s voice is leading, listener is already enslaved. Distorted guitar riffs and keyboards create a characteristic melody, which elements are gradually excluded and then newly included, creating form of some play with the music. We also can not forget about drums that perfectly support the ongoing trance of listener by the whole length of the track.
Target fish is far much better than the title composition. More smooth, with a low bass in the background, with a more moderate pace of drums, perfectly conducted guitar and vocal line it is shining very brightly, and with all its poetic, as darkwave atmosphere flows through each molecule of air, that induces movement in a caused sound wave. Kept in a similar style Ankle deep in a swamp of lies is the best point of the delivered material. Sorrowful verses, chorus brightened by the guitar, intensified emotions, release of their layers at the end of the composition and masterful, perverse magic of words expressing pain and hope at the same time - only to that one song I could listen for hours, although the whole EP does not last even thirty minutes.
See you in water stands out the most, it is started by unusual for the former tracks rhythm, electric trance, the most gloomy, full of sorrow atmosphere and vocal coming out from the depth at the beginning, other components are as light ornament sliding in the background. In the end everything explodes, and listener is carried by piercing electric guitar and strong singing, but still full of sense of hopelessness. And then it all disappears like the body slowly falling into the river, more and more invisible.

Acoustic equivalents are as ephemeral reflections of moonlight on the water, fleeting reflection of the hard world. This is an introduction to a very intimate, subtly moving world, full of onirism. Compositions do not lose at anything, and even gain - gain a new dimension, in which the listener can escape, focusing more on the poetic side than on the rock of expression, there is less of psychedelic pop, and more of continuous melancholy. In this release, it is difficult to distinguish any of tracks, all of them are very close to perfection in their acoustic form.

EP "Litato" was my first contact with the group and it revealed to be a great surprise. Luno is a silvery beauty enchanted in sounds, and the publishing itself can be definitely determined no otherwise than as a favorable omen for the band’s bright future.

Tracklist:

01. Litato
02. Target fish
03. Ankle deep in a swamp of lies
04. See you in water
05. Litato (acoustic)
06. Target fish (acoustic)
07. Ankle deep in a swamp of lies (acoustic)
08. See you in water (acoustic)
Author:
Translator: hellium
Add date: 2013-12-30 / Music reviews




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