Golfclvb
Golfclvb

A quartet of guys with quite a bit of musical experience behind them, Golfclvb are among the few examples of Independent Rock made in Sardinia that have managed to get known outside the island territory (an achievement also reached by the Rippers, who, however, play an excellent Garage Rock).

They debuted with Golfclvb (Here I Stay Records, 2006), a self-titled album that features absolute, innovative, and at the same time, familiar sounds (unusual bass lines, numerous instrumental suites, a shouted-sung typical of indie) on the national scene.

A real debut with a bang (in terms of quality, but unfortunately not in terms of sales).

The initial "You" features a typically adolescent singing voice that contrasts with the mature and flawless instrumentation, while in "Blow Away", it seems the guitar, drums, and bass (which leads throughout the album) play with impeccable simultaneity.

The third track, "Secret Place", welcomes the entrance of the synth and features sounds, perhaps due to the catchy chorus, that are already familiar, reminiscent of the best alternative rock and, to a slight extent, even grunge. The sound instead leans more towards electronic than indie. The fourth track, "All is gone", initially showcases the well-known indie, then transitions to darker sounds that vaguely remember the best Joy Division mixed with Depeche Mode.

In "Autostop", in my opinion, the second-best track on the album, it seems that the aforementioned DP pick up the instruments and rock out with David Gahan vocally emulating a cheeky indie-youth. "Edison At Home" and "Other Lines" retrace the previously exposed musical traits (confirmation of the electronic vein for the former, return to pure indie for the latter).

It is precisely in the less alternative track that, in my opinion, Golfclvb gives their best; Their finest track, that "Sheepdog", would have you scream scandal, plagiarism for its sinuosity and beauty (in these times of creative scarcity, it’s inevitably already heard or copied), only to remain impassive and inert when you realize that in reality, such melody and such a way of making music, in this track, you’ve never heard anywhere. The culmination of the dark and depressed vein that barely feels palpable in the other tracks, here manifests itself clearly and evidently: pseudo-adolescent hysterics make way for a subdued and just revealed singing, with a drum set that asserts itself more decisively, guitar weaving melody upon melody, a dry and concise bass. With their typical "arm-in-arm" progression. A mature and disenchanted track, just like the band's nature. N-th return to electronics with the track that closes the deal: "Circular".

Great promoters of musical events (the three-day Here I Stay Festival is an example) continuously strive to encourage and introduce new talents and emerging young Sardinian rock bands, as well as bring prominent figures of international indie rock to the island.

A good debut album, waiting for the follow-up to confirm.