Independent music is alive and well in Brooklyn, New York. With its second EP release, Cruel Black Dove is making the case for more exposure and maybe even some financial backing. Just released January 12th, music lovers would certainly not be wasting their time if they checked out The Myth and the Sum.

Consisting of five tracks, what the listener will first notice is the pounding backbeat; strong, incessant, pulsating. Think of Dépêche Mode from the Music for the Masses era. The vocals wrap around your mind like a sultry seductress, drawing you into her world. The voice of Anastasia Dimou reminds me of velvet with a punch. She draws you in, makes you feel comfortable, soft and soothing.  Then she cracks you like a whip.

Musically, Cruel Black Dove borrows from the icons of the alternative era. Noticeable in their style are Depeche Mode, The Cure, New Order, etc. They have a way of using a retro feel, yet making it new. The strong female lead certainly helps. While Gahan, Smith and the others sounded brooding and sulky, Dimou adds a sexy edge to it.

As stated earlier, the band hails out of Brooklyn, New York and is currently independent. It is comprised of Dimou (vocals), Shirley Ho (bass), Alan Veucasovic (guitar) and Jonathan Nanberg.  The band has toured internationally before and plans to tour both nationally and in Europe to promote this latest release. It would be interesting to see the translation of their studio work live. Other reviews of the live show speak highly of the band on stage. I hope they travel somewhere around my neck of the woods so I could confirm that.

In conclusion, I think this is a strong release with no soft tracks in the bunch. My two favorites are probably the title track and the opener “Forgotten Place.” The Myth and the Sum will make another very worthy addition to my Ipod.

Rating: 3 guns!!!

Label: Self-Released – Rating:

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