NOTE: This was originally published on 3/8/14 at KOVL's Facebook page
The very fact that St.Aria exists can be attributed to the
old notion that good dreams never die. The man with said dream, Alexander
Platon, saw an early version of the band fall apart. He took a spot as the
keyboard player in The Borderline Saints, and talks with the Saints’ producer
breathed new life into Platon’s vision. That dream, that vision, is to explore
and create ballads. Two members of the Saints, their producer, and two other
musicians helped make the dream a reality, with St.Aria’s debut EP, “We Claim
This Aria”, dropping on February 28, 2014.
True to Platon’s vision, and also to the term “aria”, five
of the six songs are ballads, driven both by guitar and by Platon’s piano. The
lone exception, “Fly Away”, is a rock/rap composition about a relationship gone
horribly wrong. The very first lyrics in the song lament being “forced to
escape”, and the opening line of the rap shows regret over ever saying “I love
you.” Needless to say, there are indications that this isn’t a happy, uplifting
song. Musically, it simultaneously brings to mind Evanescence and a more
palatable take on Limp Bizkit’s style. Personally, I've never been big on the
rock/rap combination, but for St.Aria it seems to be the exception, rather than
the rule, so it’s easier to digest. The song actually has the feel of a
professional wrestling entrance theme. That’s meant as a compliment, because
the fired-up feel of the music is undeniable. You get charged up listening to
it, even though the lyrics describe the need to leave a bad situation tout de
suite.
By contrast, “By Your Side” is an
I’ll-always-be-there-for-you, don’t-do-anything-rash track. The band shot a
video for the song that underscores the nature of the song, as a woman on the
brink of suicide is stopped at the last moment by Platon himself. Curiously, as
of the time this review was published, “By Your Side” can be seen on YouTube,
but not purchased from St.Aria’s ReverbNation page. Hopefully this is a
temporary oversight, as it may be the strongest of the six songs. It’s
certainly a worthy choice as the band’s first single. The song boasts an airy
feel that sets it apart from the others, and the 6/8 time signature also helps
it stand out. At least the song can be heard in full, and in solid sound
quality, but the downloaded EP is incomplete without it.
The singer, Jimmy Ferhm, has what could be described as a
two-tone singing voice. In his lower register, he sounds like Daniel Ash from
Love & Rockets. In his upper register, he has more of a traditional rock voice.
Things are changed up on “Another Symphony”, when Sofia Rapp (Sofia Reimhagen
on the band’s Facebook page; one may be either a stage name or maiden name)
gets a crack at lead vocals, and shines. Sofia isn't currently a fulltime
member of the band, but if they want to keep throwing in a change of pace,
she’s a great option. Nevertheless, each vocal sound is distinctive from the
others, and each adds something different to the band.
Usually, a band with their instrumentation goes harder,
heavier, looking to rock your face off. But with their ballad approach, St.Aria
can claim this aria, uniqueness, and long-awaited success.
Final rating: 3.8 out of 5
Download “We Claim This Aria”: http://www.reverbnation.com/Stariamusic
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