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Rating: And where did these guys come from? Who remembered the Cell anymore, born in New York in 1990!! Two albums released before ending their career half a decade later; discovered by me by pure and fortunate chance when they played alongside the wonderful Japanese Shonen Knife. A concert held in the spring of 1993 at the customary place of worship that was the Bloom of Mezzago for many years.
Slo - Blo is the band's long-distance debut, having previously released a single for the record label of a certain Thurston Moore. At this point, it becomes easy to define the Cell's musical coordinates: vigorous Post-Punk guitar interplays reminiscent of Sonic Youth, accompanied by a melodic search that closely recalls the Nirvana of Nevermind. The album is released by the City Slang label, which tries to place the band in the Grunge movement (the reasons for this operation, especially economic ones, are easily understandable).
The ten tracks all develop in a very similar way: a lazy, slow, narcoleptic beginning that almost induces drowsiness. With a noisy crescendo, an intensity that rises with the temporal flow of the songs; reaching Psycho-Grunge electric peaks of stunning and hypnotic beauty. And it’s the singing, reminiscent of Guy Kyser of the formidable Thin White Rope, that is another strong element of the group.
It suffices to describe the long "Stratosphere" to give an idea of the Cell's excellent musical quality: a phlegmatic and nocturnal instrumental introduction, followed by an explosion into a phrase of the two guitars that continue to chase each other, with sinuous and enveloping riffs. Guitars that slowly fade away in the end as in an intimate abandonment.
A contemplative and mystical masterpiece.
Ad Maiora.
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