Lolita Terrorist Sounds worship at the altar of St. Lola in their dark-hearted debut album — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The Berlin avant-garde industrial act’s boundary-pushing release was recorded and produced by bandleader Maurizio Vitale in a former secret service building in East Berlin and mixed by Thomas Stern (Nick Cave, Einstürzende Neubauten, Crime & The City Solution). The band’s unconventional creative approach has resulted in an album that resonates with raw energy and unapologetic artistic expression. Contributions from Swans lap-steel guitar maestro Kristof Hahn (who played on almost the entire album) and avant-garde legend Bob Rutman (†) add magic to this set.
Vitale adopted an esoteric approach to recording St. Lola’s seven songs: “I used a limited amount of old microphones and analog gear to capture and preserve the instinctive roughness of the music. It was more about capturing the magic of the moment and the historical place where the songs were conceived rather than making a polished record.”
The band’s journey to St. Lola has been marked by a series of acclaimed singles and live releases. The hypnotic opener Shaved Girl (featuring Rutman on bow chime) was released as a single during Pride Month. It delves deep into the heart of self-discovery and the courage it takes to embrace one’s identity fully. In the streets of Paris, Prison Song unfolds a heart-wrenching love story. The haunting vocals and evocative instrumentation reveal two lovers torn apart by circumstances beyond their control — a jail sentence that stands as a barrier to their affection.
Red Carpet transports listeners into the illusory world of fame’s shadowy side. Subtle satire intertwines with lines from the ancient Greek tragedy The Oresteia, provocatively challenging societal ideals of success. Journeying into the realm of full moon rituals and tribal rhythms, Curse mesmerizes listeners with mystic landscapes inspired by the tales of One Thousand And One Nights.
The title track serves as a haunting and evocative culmination. Set against the backdrop of a desolate Berlin bridge on a grey day, it paints an atypical love story, a painful farewell between two souls deeply intertwined. The ethereal vocals and tugging melody encapsulate the poignant essence of love and loss, bringing the album’s diverse narratives full circle. Closing cut Living-in-glory, a drony and ecstatic track that delves into the world of ASMR. This final sonic exploration takes listeners on a journey of sensory immersion, invoking a trance-like state through its ambient textures and soothing whispers.
St. Lola stands as a testament to the band’s commitment to pushing boundaries and defying musical conventions. Drawing inspiration from an array of sources, Lolita Terrorist Sounds channel the raw intensity of Nine Inch Nails, the avant-garde spirit of Einstürzende Neubauten, the sonic depth of Swans, the primal energy of The Stooges and the dark poeticism of early Nick Cave.
Listen to St. Lola below and follow Lolita Terrorist Sounds on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.
