Album Review: Mark Ciani – The Catacombs
Always bursting with ideas, never afraid to push the boundaries, Mark Ciani has been an active member of New York City music scene for over 25 years. His permanent collaborator Fernando Lodeiro has worked with many music legends, including Paul McCartney and Nile Rodgers. And The Catacombs is the eighth album the power team has produced together.
The genre-defying record starts with Cut Me Up that marries Beatlesque psychedelic melodies and keyboards with a brief moment that brings in a stadium-sized hook, akin to Big Star and adorned with energetic buzzing guitars.
Some Kind of Purgatory is notable for the way it switches between dissonant theatric art-pop and straightforward power pop riding on the backs of muscular pulsating rhythm guitars.
Big Tits in Cartoons is a great example of how ironic lyrics can be elevated to unimaginable heights by angelic melodies and undeniable vocal synergy.
More achingly sweet melodies await you on Second Chance wrapped in warm cloudy pads and performed by amazing vocalist Jeni Magaña.
73 Seconds feeds on "unimaginable disaster" to build a dreamy, airy soundscape with gentle, sweet vocals and hazy guitars.
"Catch My Breath" is the song that helped shape the album's beautifully bumpy narrative – its dark and distorted guitar textures work amazingly against smooth and somewhat detached vocals singing about not being able to catch one's breath like it's no big thing. The song makes you smile and makes your heart fall apart from pain at the same time – with the lightest touch possible, much like The Housemartins / The Beautiful South used to do with their songs.
If you'd prefer to catch your breath after "Catch My Breath", you might need an instrumental. And there is an instrumental called "2:30 A.M.". But sorry, it's the kind of instrumental that won't let you do that. But I don't want to spoil the effects – turn on the album to see how the two songs work together.
"Chernobyl" is emotional, dirty and is built on a viscous groove. And the melody is stellar as always.
"Holding on to that Line" is pure avant-garde for the first minute. And then the door opens into the world of pure melodic goodness. More avant-garde follows, and more pop again. The melodies in both parts are bilssfully catchy.
"Too Wise to Enjoy" adds a brush groove, transparent piano chords and warm acoustic guitar to the sonic picture of the album.
"Denise" is the sister song to "Second Chance": more warm pads, more delicate melodies and a reprise performance from Jeni Magaña.
"Lousy Sunday Breakfast" combines rubbery bass, sunny guitar chords, intimate-sounding drum machine groove and earth-shaking live drums to a "reinforce a sobering truth: tragedy can always be set in motion.”
The album closes with the eponymous song. Its nostalgic sheen, as well as its subtle and gentle melody bring to mind a galaxy of classic songwriters from David Bowie and Bee Gees to The Lightning Seeds and Pet Shop Boys.
Overall, the album is so rich and multi-layered that it requires multiple listens to fully immerse yourself in its sonic universe and get acquainted with every detail. Fans of classic pop and rock and will recognize many influences dear to their heart, but all of these influences are combined in such clever, intricate and unpredictable ways that the album never stops surprising at every turn. Don't be afraid to step into "The Catacombs"! Their world is full of wonders.
The genre-defying record starts with Cut Me Up that marries Beatlesque psychedelic melodies and keyboards with a brief moment that brings in a stadium-sized hook, akin to Big Star and adorned with energetic buzzing guitars.
Some Kind of Purgatory is notable for the way it switches between dissonant theatric art-pop and straightforward power pop riding on the backs of muscular pulsating rhythm guitars.
Big Tits in Cartoons is a great example of how ironic lyrics can be elevated to unimaginable heights by angelic melodies and undeniable vocal synergy.
More achingly sweet melodies await you on Second Chance wrapped in warm cloudy pads and performed by amazing vocalist Jeni Magaña.
73 Seconds feeds on "unimaginable disaster" to build a dreamy, airy soundscape with gentle, sweet vocals and hazy guitars.
"Catch My Breath" is the song that helped shape the album's beautifully bumpy narrative – its dark and distorted guitar textures work amazingly against smooth and somewhat detached vocals singing about not being able to catch one's breath like it's no big thing. The song makes you smile and makes your heart fall apart from pain at the same time – with the lightest touch possible, much like The Housemartins / The Beautiful South used to do with their songs.
If you'd prefer to catch your breath after "Catch My Breath", you might need an instrumental. And there is an instrumental called "2:30 A.M.". But sorry, it's the kind of instrumental that won't let you do that. But I don't want to spoil the effects – turn on the album to see how the two songs work together.
"Chernobyl" is emotional, dirty and is built on a viscous groove. And the melody is stellar as always.
"Holding on to that Line" is pure avant-garde for the first minute. And then the door opens into the world of pure melodic goodness. More avant-garde follows, and more pop again. The melodies in both parts are bilssfully catchy.
"Too Wise to Enjoy" adds a brush groove, transparent piano chords and warm acoustic guitar to the sonic picture of the album.
"Denise" is the sister song to "Second Chance": more warm pads, more delicate melodies and a reprise performance from Jeni Magaña.
"Lousy Sunday Breakfast" combines rubbery bass, sunny guitar chords, intimate-sounding drum machine groove and earth-shaking live drums to a "reinforce a sobering truth: tragedy can always be set in motion.”
The album closes with the eponymous song. Its nostalgic sheen, as well as its subtle and gentle melody bring to mind a galaxy of classic songwriters from David Bowie and Bee Gees to The Lightning Seeds and Pet Shop Boys.
Overall, the album is so rich and multi-layered that it requires multiple listens to fully immerse yourself in its sonic universe and get acquainted with every detail. Fans of classic pop and rock and will recognize many influences dear to their heart, but all of these influences are combined in such clever, intricate and unpredictable ways that the album never stops surprising at every turn. Don't be afraid to step into "The Catacombs"! Their world is full of wonders.