Coming out of Toronto, Ontario, Canadian musical project Moscow Noir is one of the newest Electronic Rock bands on the scene. The vision of Lesther Gutierrez (guitars, vocals) who taught himself the art of recording and production, he also began dabbling with electronic sound effects as well. Handling the bulk of the inner workings of Moscow Noir, from writing to production, he brought on his brother Sylvain Gutierrez (bass, vocals), friend Steve Rice (drums), and more recently, Richard Gillespie (keyboards) and Mike Formusa (guitars) to complete the lineup.
So what exactly is Moscow Noir and where do they fit into the landscape of Electronic Rock? That is for listeners to decide, but with the release of their self-titled EP, they make a case to be put in a class among others such as The Killers, Muse, and The Bravery, just to name a few. Released on July 29th, this debut seven track offering was produced by Lesther on his own out of his home and now he looks to take it to the live stage on tour with a full band behind him.
Curious yet what Moscow Noir have in store? Well, introduction track “Odisea” gently fades listeners in with some synth sound effects, drawing comparisons to Depeche Mode. The slow-to-build track gives the impression of an awakening before “Fault Lines” comes in with warped effects, guitar, and rooted drum line. The echoing, sighing vocals are repeated behind soothing lyrics as the song brings on a sleepy vibe mixed in with graceful tones.
Picking up the beat, the single “Stars” delves into a faster pace which features grittier guitars behind the synth, drums, and vocals. Each angle of the song adds a poignant and evocative element its own ways as Lesther’s voice shines bright with high notes reached with ease, ala Muse’s Matt Bellamy and Ours’ Jimmy Gnecco.
Slowing it down some, with a relaxing beat, “Night Rider” features lower-pitched vocals, making it perfect for a late night drive on wooded and winding roads. Fans of Editors will greatly appreciate this darker piece, and “Control” takes a turn into heavier and darker depths with a strong synth leading the charge. While picking up into a nearly bouncy beat, Lesther’s voice bring the song right back into the deep with callous emotion.
Slightly more lightweight, “Changes” is evened out with the weighty bass grounding the track. With diverse vocals that sometimes whisper, the wave-like effects soothe in contrast to the brighter parts of the song. Then, ending the EP, “Constellations” closes the set out with a return to the somber atmosphere. Nostalgia and curiosity give off an air of detachment at first before the chorus breaks in as if transcending contemplation, making for a delightful listen.
Moscow Noir is an EP that is in a whole different world. Lesther Gutierrez’s vocal range create the biggest aspects of individuality on the tracks, while the instrumentals work together to create textures. That being said, this introduction is an absolutely beautifully rendered piece of art that mixes Electronic and Rock together in perfect harmony. CrypticRock gives Moscow Noir 5 out of 5 stars.
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