The Bay Area of California just got a little bit darker. The dynamic duo that is Yama Uba (featuring members of Otzi and Mystic Priestess), has released a new full-length album, "Silhouettes". Packed with plenty of glitz and glittering instrumentation that we expect from Post-punk and Darkwave bands, but make no mistake, "Silhouettes" has teeth and it is not afraid to to take an aggressive bite. Fueled by the Deathrock side of the duo, Yama Uba display a fierce and fiery femininity on each track, effectively making all 9 songs on the album a force not to be reckoned with. The opening song, "Disappear" has all the allure needed to keep you entranced till the very end of the album; I was effectively hooked right off the bat with this track. "Shapes" plays like a hit straight from the 80's, complete with a sizzling saxophone riff that burns right through mix without setting everything else on fire. Moving on further into the album, "Facade" displays the aforementioned aggressive bite, with discordant guitars and shouted vocals reminiscent of Killing Joke and even hints of Rozz Williams. We are then treated to a shimmering rendition of "I'm in Love with a German Film Star" originally done by The Passions. Finishing off the album is closing track, "Angel". Simultaneously mournful and burningly passionate, the guitars blaze as the vocals rage, rising to shouts and war whoops, all without losing the melody. The synths are darker than any Batcave club, and the rhythm section pulses and pounds, providing the perfect structure for another wailing saxophone riff to cry into the night like a banshee. Yama Uba exercise their expertise in crafting breathtaking track after track that, by the time the last note rings out, it will leave you breathless and not knowing quite what hit you, only knowing that it was stunningly beautiful.
Standout Tracks: "Angel" and "Claustrophobia"
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