When people make the decision to immerse their lives in music, the results are likely to manifest themselves in one of two ways. A lot of people end up effectively burning out on the grey areas of the lifestyle - the grimy corners and malfunctioning equipment and bad food.
The other reaction - to realise that there has to be more than this - is where we find Vito. Five men from Cardiff, almost all of whom make a living from music one way or another and who, in the course of time, have seen enough to know that bands' proverbial paying of the dues is an equally proverbial minefield. This is what fuels their collective sense of ambition, a driven but deeply personal stance.
Together for roughly two years, Vito attempt to make their shows an 'event' by means of their location, line-up or both. Their debut album, 'Make Good Areas Disturbed' (which was released in June 2006), doesn't feature individual names, to emphasise the point that this is a unit operating together, an entity that is Vito. This attitude is less a kick at the music business than a steely determination that the quintet operate on their terms, and theirs exclusively.
The band made contact with the label that released their inaugural single, The Flower Shop Recordings - responsible for Sophia, Copenhagen,
Ligament and many more fine bands - thanks to their friend and
producer, Charlie
Francis. Charlie introduced Vito to Flower Shop chief (ex God Machine and now Sophia front man) Robin Proper-Shepherd, and a mutual appreciation followed its natural course. A love of music as artefact and a palate for moving intricate and measured sonics, make this a keen pairing of minds.
This collaboration resulted in a 6 week tour of Europe during April and May to promote the release of Vito's debut album (on the same label). Supporting Sophia, the shows opened with a set from Vito. Following that, the Sophia set was split into a solo acoustic set and a shorter electric set with Vito as the back-up band.
The single and in particular the album, reveal a band with a deft skill for conveying emotion and grandeur. Elements of many of the recent past's more lauded instrumental/post-rock bands suggest themselves: Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Sigur Ros' early EPs, later Mogwai, Radiohead and Explosions
In The Sky are touchstones, but more in the sense of helpful
pointers rather than paraded influences.
Rather fittingly, it's an expansive sound that suggests a break for the border and an optimism shining through the gloom.
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No.5
