New: Single and Video release - Emilio Largo

Recently Emilio Largo released their new single Derealise along with a new video to match.  With a new guitarist on board, the band have begun writing a follow up to their first EP In Uniform We Divide (read my review from March here) and have given us a taster of what we can expect from the future and what has changed in their style and approach since the first EP.  Derealise is a lot less antsy in comparison to some of the tunes on IUWD, and you can definitely hear the attention to ambience with more harmonic vocals throughout the song, yet the band have still got the token unclean vocals slotted in there too - just to make you aware it is still Emilio Largo that you are listening too.  I can hear more of the band's influences of Arcane Roots and Oceansize and from my own iTunes I am reminded a little of Skies Fell (another Scottish band worth looking up).  Since their debut, Emilio Largo have been quick to progress and I look forward to hearing what they come up with as they continue to form their follow up.  

You can download Derealise for FREE on bandcamp! :)

Happy Listening,

S.x

Emilio Largo

I must begin this post with an apology to Emilio Largo and any readers for taking so long to post this review.  Due to work, what little time I have had to myself has been spent trying to unwind and forget about all the impending writing that keeps mounting up.  However, I am back and ready to recommend more new music.

Now why not come back with a recommendation that strays a little from some of the more recent bands I have posted on here?  Edinburgh three-piece Emilio Largo are a mixture of, according to their press release, math-rock, progressive and grunge.  For me there are certainly darker tones than fellow Edinburgh band The Winter Tradition, who’s guitarist Mark Morrow is incidentally producer of their debut EP In Uniform We Divide.  If you like punchy, antsy and hectic, Emilio Largo are for you.  The opening track In Uniform has early Twin Atlantic vibes but with more grit that continues throughout the EP with JudgeMental’s dark bass, fast tempo and manic screaming chants providing a great short punchy tune.  The penultimate track We Divide evokes elements of Biffy’s Infinity Land, with it’s haunting harmonies and guitar lines.  After the manic clashing of guitars, about 3mins 47secs in, the tempo changes and a saxophone glides in along with mellow vocal harmonies.  The song takes on a completely different tone but because of the contrast, it strangely seems to work.  If you need to listen to one song by the band I would recommend this one, as it showcases all the things the band can do in 6 mins 36 secs.  In my opinion there’s a hint of some sort of obscure jazz thing going on… and as I say, it works – so listen to it.  The EP closes with Disco Volante, again with screaming, raw vocals, pithy lyrics and heavy bass lines - an apt ending to a fresh and frenzied first EP. 

Overall, In Uniform We Divide is a very competent debut from Emilio Largo.  It’s not one for relaxing to but it's the kind of music you listen to in order to get yourself pumped up for battle... with lots of head-banging and appropriate facial expressions to match.  I can hear the influences of the changing time signatures that Biffy Clyro are renowned for, which give an unpredictability that some bands starting out don’t seem to succeed the first time.  Emilio Largo’s sound may not be everyone’s cup of tea but they certainly grab you by the balls (or the female equivalent... ).

You can have a listen to In Uniform We Divide on bandcamp and purchase it on iTunes and on emiliolargo.bigcartel.com.

Follow the band on Twitter and Facebook

Have a great week everyone and happy listening,

S.x

Happy New Year from Smile Little Darling!

Happy New Year everyone!  I hope to bring more gig and band reviews to you this year.  Thank you for sticking with me for the last year and keep spreading the word of good under the radar music! As always, I love to hear your thoughts and recommendations so feel free to pop in now and then and leave a message :D