Review Summary: A lush, soothing shoegaze record more suited for gazing at the stars.
Stella Luna are a band that have been active since 1996. I don't think they've released anything since this record, which came out 2002. Shoegaze and dreampop have become increasingly popular pretty recently but this is closer to the timeframe of Loveless. One thing that stands out is how well it all flows together. I couldn't discern a few of the transitions from one track to the next, which isn't a bad thing. While some bands suffer from lack of originality and other factors that keep tracks from standing out, the spacey, post-rock feel to this album keeps it from being a problem.
The album is 26 minutes long with only 4 songs. The vocals are lush and soft and compliment the guitars. The instruments, guitars specifically, aren't as distorted and chaotic compared to other shoegaze albums. The vocals themselves are more of an instrument than a voice. They contribute to the feel and flow of the album rather than distract from it. Ambiance and certain sound effects make this album stand out from the already amazing performance. The sounds are focused on making this album as spacey as possible, with radio communication intervals and takeoff-esque effects.
The entire album is subdued and soft with some blaring moments. The guitars are distorted and low,but the instruments aren't meant to be focused on individually. like any aspect of this album. It's all focused on the feel and flow of the album. That's not to say the musicians aren't proficient with their instruments, but it's not a super technical album.
Overall this album isn't going to be a classic within the genre, mainly due to obscurity. I think it could definitely be one of the greats if it was more popular. A towering work of shoegaze and dreampop with post-rock influences and beautiful, soothing vocals, this is a great album to check if you're a fan of the genre.
