It’s certainly not the sense of belonging to a genre what stands out when listening to “Rivers and Beds” by Rooms by the Sea, instead it’s a depth in the sounds, in the lyrics, in the attitude, though indulging in an intelligent pop opening and being therefore really appreciable.
The debut album is the perfect way to discover and love this band from Florence, Italy, there is all the room needed for the development of a compact sound, arrangements that are extremely functional to the song’s structure, an abundance of grit and taste.
“Great Void” is a track where Teresa Rossi’s voice is supported by the instruments with vigour and grace, a successful experiment that demonstrates a precious and pretty rare artistic sensitivity in our national scene, a song that certainly won’t go unnoticed.
“Lost Thought” continues on the path taken by the previous song: guitars that enter the scene and leave their mark, a lovable groove makes its way for complete listening satisfaction.
“Copenhagen” has a new-wave frown, before an embracing bass and the voice lead us back into the maze of a bright and compelling folk-rock, that manages to be intense and pleasant at the same time. After the references to Dead Can Dance in the atmospheric “Hollows (Seeking For)”, a “New Lights” comes, and here Florence and The Machine meet the Fleetwood Mac.
“Tomorrow” is a song that embodies all the features of this Florentine band, the theatrical charge reaches its peak, and the sounds reflect that precision in the arrangements that seems to arise from a very clear idea of how a song should sound.
“We try to focus on the core, the heart, of each song. On the instinctive and emotional charge behind it” is written in the press release of Rooms by the Sea, summing up a feeling present throughout the album, that essentiality that makes it a cohesive and fascinating work.
A.D.
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