The Windmill Shop
Wave

Anyone who followed the legendary Paisley Underground scene of the '80s will remember well how it was a moment of creativity in a musical context that, at the time, was dominated by the gray sounds of post-punk. Bands like The Dream Syndicate, Opal, True West, and Green On Red managed to inject some life into a sad musical landscape. Those seeds have not been completely lost and occasionally sprout, as in the case of the artists from Lodi, The Windmill Shop, a band founded by singer Massimo Robbi (already known as the frontman of Sunspots—a name that pays homage to a famous Julian Cope song—and Scrubs, the latter an interesting garage-punk band) and Claudio Di Quarto on guitars (also formerly of Sunspots and Scrubs). Alfonso Ventura on bass and Massimo Longhi on drums complete the lineup. The album, titled "Wave," could indeed have been recorded in the '80s. In addition to Paisley Underground, I would also say that I hear the influence of new wave, although it lacks the typical coldness of that genre. Undoubtedly, the shadow of a great artist like Julian Cope and Australian bands like the Church also looms over the album. Overall, the atmosphere is calm and tends very much toward a playful and psychedelic feeling. A track like "Floating Away" exemplifies their approach: the sound is characterized by the '60s tones of the guitars and Massimo Robbi's beautiful warm voice. In "Sidney," you hear the typical post-punk sound of the era with the bass prominent, all filtered with a pop sensitivity. The title track is another beautiful inspired and lively moment, always with the guitars at the forefront. "Shake The Brain" closes the album in a more driven and engaging manner. In the end, although we are in the presence of a derivative product, "Wave" sounds fresh and showcases the talent of a promising band that has something to say, and I'm sure they will offer us more convincing work in the future.