An act evocative of smoke filled jazz clubs, British alternative rock and performance art; Brazilian Sao Paulo band, Optic Yellow Felt, have a stirring and poignant debut, self titled album, released in 2011.
Comprising of the Nader brothers, Victor on guitar and vocals, Lino on bass, drummer Tiago B, Nando Morsani on piano, Eduardo Marson on electric guitar, and Ricardo Pires on saxophone, the band have a very strong jazz influence and indie rock sound, almost resounding in a 1980s homage to Gothic rock and new wave.
Similar to the works of Morrissey (the Smiths), The Cure and Marc Almond as Marc and the Mambas (of Soft Cell fame), Optic Yellow Felt are artistic in purpose and retrospective in outcome.
The individual beauty of the musical lines in each instrument is brought together in an elegant amalgam by the vocalist, Victor Nader. His phrases are well articulated and give breath and life to each piece, capturing emotion with ease and evoking the angry and simultaneously sorrowful British voice of the 80s.
Inspiration from Morrissey is highly evident in the way Nader croons his poetic lyrics, transporting listeners to a world reminiscent of ‘spending warm summer days indoors, writing frightening verse to a bucktoothed girl in Luxembourg’, and comments just as powerfully on social relationships. “Sure things will change… When everyone is here to use you, I’m just here to amuse you;”
Cup o’ Coffee is a reflective, introspective and pensive piece, exploring relationship dynamics, in high contrast to the aggressive and almost hostile, “so vicious [and] so innocent.”
Sitting On The Floor has the lyrics of an angst grunge anthem, not dissimilar to Nirvana, and the atmospheric bones of an arthouse film. The pieces in this album are intense, but nevertheless enjoyable. Let You Wonder, is especially powerful, but by all means memorable and catchy.
Fine, Fine and 2U however, are seemingly more lighthearted. Experimental jazz folk pieces, much like the rest of the album, yet their aesthetic appeal is not lost, and promises a very interesting and intense live rendition, especially with Victor Nader’s character-full voice type.
Optic Yellow Felt’s eponymous album is a collection of artworks that have great potential as performance artists in a musical medium. The band has a great sense of coherence and cohesion, and all members seem to have a common musical goal, which can be heard. A beautiful, atmospheric and ethereal act, look out for live shows and new song releases on the band’s website.
Connect with the band:
Facebook | Twitter | Official Website
Review by Audrey Isabella
Date Published: 20/04/13
indiemunity | Transporting Listeners – Optic Yellow Felt
27 Saturday Apr 2013
Posted in indiemunity
Café Grade Poetry 