Solea
Live - Wild at Heart Berlino - 16.06.2002

LA RECENSIONE

I can reveal it to you right away: Solea did not impress me at all. Considering the band’s lineup (members of Samiam and Texas is the Reason, both “monuments” of Emocore), one could, or rather should, expect an explosive blend of high-speed emocore, a sublime musical fusion of their styles. Instead, the result is a sort of US College Rock or, to exaggerate, an insubstantial Emopop that at times resembles the sounds of Weezer or Jimmy Eat World. Despite the undeniable excellent technical qualities of the four guys (singer/guitarist and bassist from T.I.T.R., drummer and second guitarist from Samiam), the 7 tracks played last night at Wild at Heart in Berlin in front of about 100 people (almost a full house) offered nothing undisciplined and abrasive; they never took off like a rocket. The voice is still beautiful, as with Texas, but it doesn’t fill the void left by an overly static drum and guitars lacking body (despite being Gibson SG). Perhaps, before going on tour, they should have released their album, allowing us an easier and more complete evaluation. For many American bands (see also Sparta) it has become a trend to promote their upcoming releases with concerts, but as in this case, the choice is not always productive. An Art Work too soft and rhetorical for my taste, also alien to the historical Emotional Punkrock of Samian. Just over half an hour of performance with 7 songs plus a solo instrumental cover of a T.I.T.R. song seems a bit too little for an 8 € entrance fee, and I don’t even want to delve into their pseudoboicottaggio of the Marshall brand (covered on 1 head and cabinet with black tape). djd