British neo-psych rockers Bernaccia has perpetually caught ears and expectations by surprise with their insistently magnetic fusion of psychedelic mystery and desert blues atmospherics driven by tribalistic rhythms. Indeed across EPs and singles, the Newcastle band has grown into one of the UK’s most compelling propositions, beguiling and seducing with their dark and often cinematic rock ‘n’ roll. New single Awake though has arguably provided the biggest and admittedly most flavoursome twist yet with the ear catching addition of vocalist Ellen Chetcuti to the band’s ranks.
From their 2014 released Cinema EP, the foursome of vocalist/guitarist Jonny Noble, synthist Stew Falkous, bassist Kieran Healy, and drummer Chris Cox has persistently and increasingly lured attention and acclaim with their fascinating darkly lit psych/melodic rock explorations. Equally their live presence has only reinforced the potency of their emergence as shows with the likes of Royal Blood, Lola Colt, Alabama 3, The Fall, Twisted Wheel, CUD, and Wolf People have come and successfully passed alongside the release of impressive proposals like the heftily acclaimed Light//-//Dark EP and last single Power To The Hills. The well-received track was the band’s most intense and dark tapestry of sound and imagination yet and now more than matched by the brighter lit but just as rousing and immersive Awake.
Keys caress ears initially as a percussive shuffle dances with the imagination. Swiftly the unexpected and quickly embraced voice of Chetcuti slips in. Listening to a release before doing research, especially in regard to a band already well known, can often catch expectations out, and here the presence of the band’s newest member certainly provided a rewarding surprise. In no time, Noble’s familiar dark tones step forwards alongside Chetcuti’s, synths rising with suggestive and exotic flames around their alternating and merging persuasions as ears and thoughts are quickly entangled in the song’s thick and shadowed drama. Drenched in similarly immersive atmospheric smog, the track reveals great blues and at times eighties new wave enterprise, playing like a mix of My Baby, Jingo, and King Trigger whilst emerging as another unique Bernaccia adventure.
Increasingly anthemic and spirit rousing with each one of its inciting minutes, Awake is a new step in the gripping rise of Bernaccia. Why the band’s dark and often sinister romances of body and imagination have not made then a name on the lips of multitudes it is hard to understand but maybe Awake will be the spark to tempt the broadest spotlights that the band deserves.
Awake is released April 8th via iTunes and other stores.
Upcoming Live Shows:
April 8th Club Fandango Presents – The Old Blue Last – London
April 28th TS ONE – Middlesbrough
April 30th Sawmill Sessions – Darlington
May 7th The Polar Bear – Hull
May 21st The Mining Institute – Newcastle
https://www.facebook.com/BernacciaMusic http://twitter.com/bernaccia
Pete RingMaster 28/03/2016
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