Through If Memories Had Eyes, a tender pop-rock record, Darià Artiola goes through a lot of memories. Review.
IF MEMORIES HAD EYES – DARIÀ ARTIOLA
The first notes of Building, which opens this new record, give away the main tones. Nostalgia is the guest of honour. Throughout If Memories Had Eyes, Darià Artiola explores some reminiscences of the past but doesn’t stop there. And if the introduction of Building has a feeling associated with the general idea of nostalgia, the rest of the song is coloured and solar. Like a bridge between the times, past, present and future. A similar warmth comes from the first riffs of This Ain’t Hollywood before the synths turned on their very 80s neon lights. Catchy as it should, and political too, it opens a long-time-no-see dancefloor.
Even Kings & Queens acts as a nice remedy against loneliness. It’s a darker part of the record that starts then, along with Dimonis and Innocent Situation. These two tracks have some sharp riffs, the former staying in the 80s vibe, and the latter with a more modern approach. Darkness and sadness can be a part of nostalgia, and some tracks feel more intense that way (When You’re off Alone, What Is Real), yet there’s always a touch of optimism, something bright, that shines through them all. Moreover, some songs really lean more towards the happy side of nostalgia, where regrets are replaced by relief. The relief to have come so far, done so much, and a certain pride (There’s Something More, Da Igual, Boat in the Harbor).
Dragons & Roses has left quite an impression on me with its progressive atmosphere and its mythological inspirations. It’s really well-balanced. Darià Artiola is proud of his roots, singing in Catalan, Spanish and English, and shows here what Barcelona-based rock has to offer whilst questioning reality and our relationship to our memories. Darià Artiola has made of If Memories Had Eyes a real collection of universal instants. He invites us to stop and try and understand why our identities are shaped by our memories. He closes this record with The Road Ahead, a soft and upbeat nod to the future and all the memories it’ll make.
Now Playing: This Ain’t Hollywood
