Viarosa – Where The Killers Run
Posted by AlMachine on Tuesday, July 5, 2005


‘Viarosa’ are an offshoot of Willard Grant Conspiracy, featuring Josh Hillman of the afore mentioned band, and this is the follow up to the mini album ‘Porous’ which was released earlier in the year.

This is a rootsy album built up around Richard Neuberg’s deeply captivating vocal delivery and overlaid with rich textured melodies. If you’re a fan of slow burning music such as The Tindersticks or Nick Cave then these gentle ballads telling mythical tales of sin and salvation interwoven with modern day experiences, will be the perfect escapism.

There is a haunting steel guitar melancholia here, and the wide variety of instruments, mandolins, banjos and violins are also complimented by Emma Seal’s backing vocals.

Personally I feel that many of the mini albums problems remain here; the album is a little too slow and brooding. With some tracks such as ‘Where The Killers Run’ taking far too long to get going it feels as though this is down-tempo, leftfield, minimalist mood music.

There are gems hidden away here, and with a little exploring tracks such as ‘Boy’ and ‘Blood From A Stone’ slowly start to reveal themselves; it will just take patience and repeat listens to find them…

Greg Thomas



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