The Uncanny Extravaganza. New Candys

New Candys is a band from Venice, Italy. Until fairly recently, I was not familiar with rock bands from Italy. Lately there has been an upsurge of bands of which New Candys is one example. The band plays alternative rock music with a strong psychedelic component. The focus lies on the rock side mostly, as presented in a great way in one of the previous singles 'Regicide', that also opens The Uncanny Extravaganza.

New Candys do not try to hide their influences a lot. Bands like The Black Angels shine through with ease, while the way the singing is recorded makes me think of Pink Floyd before the band found its voice, i.e. 'Dark Side Of The Moon', but also Alex Maas of The Black Angels. There's no hesitation whatsoever though in the singer's voice. He knows exactly what effect he wants to achieve and is not in search of his voice or hesitant in letting us hear it.

On The Uncanny Extravaganza core members Fernando Nuti (vocals, guitar, synth, programming) and Dario Lucchesi (bass, synth, programming) are joined by Emanuele Zanardo (guitar, backing vocals) and Francesco Giacomin (drums, percussion, sampler), the new line up since the release of 'Vyvyd' and the following tour in 2021. As the latest album is my introduction to the band, I cannot compare the previous iteration of the band to today's. Where the singing is concerned, much will have stayed the same.

What I like foremost on The Uncanny Extravaganza is the mix of (psychedelic) rock with an amount of pop that makes for very pleasant listening. The band knows very well when to add a nice extra melody, augmenting songs no little. It offers choruses that stick in my head like glue, making my head give a little jolt each time I hear one come by.

Photo: Riccardo Melato

At the same time, the music is psychedelic enough to make a difference. It sets the songs on The Uncanny Extravaganza apart from regular rock bands, while the songs never become like floating in space: There's a vast space but nowhere to go to. This album takes its listeners from point a to b in each song, allowing you to some free floating before delivering you back where you belong.

Like all good psychedelic rock bands New Candys has influences going all the way back to the time the music originated, from 1966 to 1969. You will find them here and there on the album. All through the decades since new bands have sprung up emulating and growing the genre. For over a decade now, bands have built careers in this niche in rock music. New Candys have done so successfully also and will tour Europe extensively in May and June, to next go Down Under in July. Based on what I hear on The Uncanny Extravaganza, it will become a success.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order The Uncanny Extravaganza here:

https://newcandys.bandcamp.com/album/the-uncanny-extravaganza-2