You can trust Louder
Need something to raise the spirits? Preferably featuring three Italians and some knotty, near-instrumental math-rock with über-euphoric oomph? Hello Corregio’s Valerian Swing. On album number four they’ve swapped out their bassist for baritone guitarist Francesco Giovanetti and whomped up the brightness and contrast settings, dipping into experimental pop territory – and some proper vocals – alongside their usual noisy, guitar-led excursions.
Mixing engineer Matt Bayles – a man who knows his way around Mastodon, Russian Circles and Isis – is back for a second stint, and his technical wizardry is clearly evident on Four Horses, where bombast, composition and melody merge beautifully (giving scene kings And So I Watch You From Afar some dramatic competition). Digital effects and textures also add expansion – there’s a slightly distracting moment at the start of Five Walls where you wonder if your telly has flipped over to Casualty – propelling a tuneful and dynamic leap forward for the young trio. Mozzafiato!
Jo is a journalist, podcaster, event host and music industry lecturer who joined Kerrang! in 1999 and then the dark side – Prog – a decade later as Deputy Editor. Jo's had tea with Robert Fripp, touched Ian Anderson's favourite flute (!) and asked Suzi Quatro what one wears under a leather catsuit. Jo is now Associate Editor of Prog, and a regular contributor to Classic Rock. She continues to spread the experimental and psychedelic music-based word amid unsuspecting students at BIMM Institute London and can be occasionally heard polluting the BBC Radio airwaves as a pop and rock pundit. Steven Wilson still owes her £3, which he borrowed to pay for parking before a King Crimson show in Aylesbury.