The Dreamy Malaise of Post-Pandemic Alt-Rock
Briefly

Bar italia, comprised of Nina Cristante, Sam Fenton, and Jezmi Fehmi, captivates with a blend of '90s slacker rock and fresh vocal harmonies. Their earlier music exuded glorious sloppiness, contrasting with Fenton and Fehmi's newer project, Double Virgo, which adopts a tighter, more polished sound. The duo's album, Shakedown, features bright guitar work and playful interplay. Fehmi's candid views on modern music critique contemporary bands while asserting bar italia's relevance in reviving guitar music. They curate an aura of mystique, offering a glamorous portrayal of loner malaise in their artistry.
The trio of Londoners, Nina Cristante, Sam Fenton, and Jezmi Fehmi, create a sound that’s a mix of slacker rock with unique emotional resonance, showcasing a shared depth in their collaborative vocals.
The new album by Double Virgo emphasizes brightness and rhythmic tightness, differentiating from bar italia's earlier, more gloriously sloppy sound with focused moments of musical interplay.
Fehmi's candid remarks on the modern music scene reveal a level of self-awareness and critique, questioning the artistic merit of contemporary bands while underscoring bar italia's distinct place in the music landscape.
The band's ability to invoke a sense of faded glamour and loner malaise establishes them as a vital force in reviving guitar music amid a landscape that some perceive as stagnant.
Read at Pitchfork
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