The band's name is Stella Diana and they have been around since 1998. Over the years they have been regarded as one of the finest post-punk/shoegaze acts in Italy and perhaps also in Europe. However, for some reason I have never encountered them. I have been hanging around in different musical styles over the years and only recently rediscovered this genre. This website I founded has proven to be a good step in my career.
The ep opens with 'Shohet', a splendid piece of shoegaze music, harsh, with loads of deep bass sounds and energetic drums. Those drums were the other elements of confusion by the way. It took me a while to get into this song. I love it now, make no mistake about that. What follows is even better. 'Caulfield' and 'Bill Carson' are brilliant songs, something between Joy Division, Slowdive and Jesus and the Mary Chain.
By the end, Stella Diana even come up with some awe-inspiring psychedelic music in 'Govinda', which I now think is my favorite track on this piece of work. A repetitive bassline, free floathing guitars and an Indian mantra, what else do you need to experience bliss? I'd love to hear more of this Master Musicians Of Bukkake meets Ozric Tentacles things. Highly recommended stuff for shoegazers, that's for damn sure...
Serge