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