Rome, Italy's own Darkwave duo, Les Longs Adieux, are back with their sophomore full length album, "Vertigo". Spanning 9 tracks of varying lengths (some songs are longer, and some are short but sweet), "Vertigo" incorporates dreamy guitars, ethereal electronics, with a retro-nuevo 80's dance floor feel; combining all the elements one could ever want from a Darkwave band into a sound that is uniquely their own. The duo, composed of Federica Garenna and Frank Marrelli, have taken this sound and given it a fresh and airy quality, which is one of the consistent themes on "Vertigo". Each track, inspired by the tragedy of 9/11, deals with different aspects of the events that took place that day, with some songs taking the perspective of those in the air. Themes of guilt, sadness, and regret provide the intense emotional backdrop for the atmospheric and stunning soundscapes that the duo have so meticulously crafted. As one who can remember where they were and what they were doing when the tragedy unfolded, this album hits hard; it is very much an emotional bloodletting, reliving the emotions felt as we all stared at our TVs in stark disbelief. With lyrics written in such vulnerable frankness, and the music written to match, "Vertigo" will surely leave you breathless, as it is, hands down, one of the best concept albums I have ever listened to.
Stand out tracks: "Sky Lobby" and "Molten Metal", the intro and outro respectively. These two songs set the tone and bring closure in such a magnificent way.
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