Backstreet Mafia is excited to premiere the fantastic new track from Italy’s magnificent Stella Diana. ‘Der Sandmann’ is from Stella Diana’s forthcoming album ’57’ due out on 25 May 2018.
The extraordinary tsunami of creativity pouring out of Italy’s rock scene continues unabated with this stellar trio from Naples. They are in the esteemed company of a host of other amazing Italian bands that have caught our attention recently, including Rev Rev Rev, Unruly Girls and Japan Suicide, to name but a few. È fantastico.
‘Der Sandmann’ is a slow burning fuse, restrained and atmospheric, revealing Stella Diana’s shoegaze DNA and the evolution into something more distinctive and unique. Structurally, the song’s opening melodic bass leads into crystalline shards of chiming guitars and a brooding cello refrain with mournful, melancholic vocals and snapshot drums. The mix and production create a haunting crisp and sparse edge to the song which augments its enigmatic tone:
This song is a gorgeously rendered, dream-like reverie that evokes a tone and feeling of ritual, magic and mysticism. Stella Diana take a refreshing twist on shoegaze: adding string arrangements and infusing the music with a post punk/new wave ethos filled with ambience and a dark edge. È una canzone bellissima, davvero.
Dario Torre (guitar/vocals) says of the track: “This track doesn’t come out from the typical sound of Stella Diana. We tried to create something that could give an imagine of an interrupted line, an unreal flux of sounds. The lyrics are about a sort of lady, a girl as the girls painted into the Pre-Raphaelite paintings. A pure representation of joy, mystery, beauty and grace. What is beautiful should be preserved as a sacred fire and, at the same time, you must be careful with this fire…”
Named after the ancient name of planet Venus (Morning Star), Stella Diana were formed in 1998 in Southern Italy’s city of Naples by Dario Torre (vocals and guitar) and Giacomo Salzano (bass guitar), joined by Giulio Grasso on drums. The new album ’57’ was recorded and mixed by Salzano, and produced by the whole band in their own recording studio, allowing the band to keep complete control over the music.
This is an album to look forward to.
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