Review: Litania ‘Litania’
What do you get when you cross members from Elli De Mon, The Great Northern X, Collars and The Black Heart Procession? Well, the answer is Litania, who are described as ‘a doom/Hindustan psych band from Italy and Serbia’. The four-piece are signed with the impressive Heavy Psych Sounds roster, and the self-titled album is one to savour.
As the band themselves have commented, this ‘is a milestone that makes us proud – it marks the beginning of a new chapter’, and if you enjoy songs that are based on drones, heavy riffs and inspired by ancient Hindustani singing, then you are in for a treat. Beginning with Manasi Devi, it immediately draws you into their world with the ethereal vocals of Elisa De Munari being a powerful force, and the bass of Enrico Baraldi standing out in the mix.
The band use traditional Hindustani instruments such as a Sitar, Dilruba, Harmonium and Tanpura, which adds significant depth to the soundscapes they create. Entwined with the drones and guitars from Marco Degli Esposti, it makes for an audible delicacy. Ghunghru has a more up-tempo drum beat from Vladimir Marikski, but it mixes well with some raw power chords. It changes direction midway as the mysterious and evocative vocal gets the head moving along.
Veil Of Illusion is up next and is another with spiritual depth and hypnotic chanting. Much slower paced, as if you are in a trance-like state, they allow the music to talk for itself and comes across as an out-of-body experience. However, it has an explosion of noise that adds more weight and substance, with the bass and guitars really shining through. The meditative state in evident again on Vighnaharta which has a blissful bass that exudes confidence in what they are doing. Then you are hit by the riff, and the drums join in to create an alluring doom track, with absorbing vocals over the top of it.
it beckons the listener to join them on their sonic journey of discovery into the abyss…
The musical themes are continued further with the grandeur of Jamuniya and Bound, which demonstrate the band’s quality musicianship. The bass lines from Baraldi are exemplary and they draw you into the narrative of the songs which are dark and intense. They tantalise at every opportunity, with meaningful guitars that complement the suggestive tones of De Munari’s vocal performance.
The quartet commented that they wanted these songs to be ‘louder than ever’, and with that classical Eastern music spread across the album, these songs will be melting the walls of venues very soon. Shankara feels like a warm embrace from an old friend before they lead you down a darkened path. You’re then seduced one final time by the fabulous Fading Light, as it beckons the listener to join them on their sonic journey of discovery into the abyss.
Label: Heavy Psych Sounds | Subsound Records
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Matthew Williams
