Ofeliadorme - Secret Fires
Remember the time when Dido seemingly ruled the world with No Angel selling 21 million copies and Eminem was sampling Thank You? In a strange way that I can’t put my finger on, Secret Fires – the third album from Italy’s Ofeliadorme – has a feel that kinda reminds me of No Angel. But don’t let that put you off. This is a very good album. At times, Francesca Bono’s vocals soar. Bono’s guitar and synth entwine around the drums of Michele Postpischl and the synths and electronics of Tato Izzia to great effect. Yes, there are those suggestions of Dido and her collaborations with Faithless but, on the likes of Alone With The Stars or BlackBlackBlack there are bigger hints of Portishead, the Knife, Fever Ray and the Cocteau Twins. The gothtastic stand-out Visions adds a healthy dose of Chameleons and Bauhaus to that mix. The production from Bjork collaborator Howie B is clear, clean and polished without being sterile. The gently forceful music is mature without ever being dull. In the band’s own words “everyone is screaming and we don’t want to scream to be heard”. And, based on this, nor should they. This is a little cracker of an album that deserves to be heard.
8/10
