Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Lilian Traviato - Practically Civilized

11/12/2016

2 Comments

 
Picture
​Lilian Traviato

Practically Civilized
self-released; 2016

4.0 out of 5 - TOP ALBUM

By Jamie Robash

Pittsburgh (by way of Rome) solo artist Lilian Traviato has been riffing on the bass guitar since she was eight years old. She has lamented that her affinity for the bass guitar has kept her “aware of the importance of a good groove.” Oddly enough I had been listening to a lot of Joy Division and its successor New Order. The bass player in both of these bands, Peter Hook, is without pun intended (well maybe a little bit) responsible for the sometimes hard edged and at others irresistibly dance-inducing thumps. Then there is of course one of these most famous bass players of all time, a fellow by the name of Paul McCartney, who’s bass lines infected so many of the Beatles classic tunes. 

Throughout high school (Traviato is now eighteen) she began to experiment in garage band recording covers, her first being Lou Reed’s groove-laden classic “Walk on the Wild Side” and eventually began to write and record her own material. Her debut album Practically Civilized sounds remarkably polished, likely a result of her fastidious efforts. 

Practically Civilized opens with “The Talking Drug” which is built on a synthetically bouncy early electronic art-beat reminiscent of early German electronic auteurs Kraftwerk, who Traviato also cites as an influence. This Kraftwerk influence bleeds through into the mellow swells of “Parade of Consolations” and keeps going strong into “Conversationally.” In this trio of songs however Traviato’s quiet yet firm vocals, steeped in R&B rhythms are what ties everything together and somehow makes it all work. This recipe is perhaps most potent on the positively lovely “Moolah Man.” 

Traviato takes chances on Practically Civilized like on the just over a minute long “January” a spritely keyboard and effects ditty that eerily turns on a dime and allows her to experiment with her vocals and samples. Then comes the funky and radio-friendly groove “Let it Spin,” which sounds like Lily Allen remixed by Lauryn Hill. Lyrically, vocally and musically it has everything a radio friendly ear would want to hear on heavy rotation. 

​
Practically Civilized is by far one of the best records I’ve heard this year by an unsigned artist. Lilian Traviato sounds wise beyond her years. And though I can only assume that this record is the result of countless years of hard work, Traviato makes each song sound as though it was created effortlessly.
soundcloud
Tweet
2 Comments
Tony D
11/14/2016 11:37:45 am

really diggin this

Reply
Jane Beckwith
11/24/2016 09:15:09 am

Infectious! ❤️

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band
© Divide and Conquer 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact