Room Noir: Fifth Floor
By Ania Glowacz
Room Noir are Hadley Bellam and Geoff Burnet and this is their second album, following 2004’s ‘White Earth’. This one is a pleasant gothic outing (no, not all dark) and has a lot in common with songwriting elements of The Cure, and textural elements of early ‘90s ‘dreampop’ outfit AR Kane. There are also nods to legendary industrial band Legendary Pink Dots, but it’s much warmer - a throbbing, pulsing, atmospheric mix of synths, piano, echoey vocals (and effects), acoustic guitars, samples, some searing (accent) guitar, nice thick bass. The vocal may be an acquired taste, but it’s meant to be understated in delivery (and sing-speak). The lyrics are excellent and worth the price of admission alone. It’s an evocative, thoughtfully crafted tapestry of music that makes for an enjoyable listen. Seposition (look it up!) Redemption Records is Hadley’s own indie label and so far, so good. This album may be loosely themed (the isolation of living in a downtown Auckland apartment following a relationship dissolution), but each track has its own unique beauty.
www.seposition.redemption.co.nz
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