Bellini appeared to have stumbled out of a time machine. Their barbedguitar hooks, thumping rhythm section, and obtuse lyricism seemstrangely out of place in 2005. One listen through songs like “RoomNumber Five” and “The Buffalo Song” make things remarkably clear:Bellini belong in 1993.Temporary Residence Limited
Though I don’t mean this in a patronizing way, it’s hard to argue withit after one listen through their second release, Small Stones. Overthe course of ten songs, the band pumps out a series of pick-scrapedriffs and thrusting drums that would make any crusty college radio jockhappy. The obvious touchstones are on proud display on Small Stones;Slint, The Jesus Lizard, Circus Lupus. All of this adds up to an albumthat, though not quite the remarkable accomplishment it could be, is anassured and rugged set of songs. A lot of the credit needs to go toguitarist Agostino Tilotta, who knows how to write jagged riffs thataren’t lacking in melody. On songs like “Smiling Fear,” his guitarplaying is anchored in place by the solid time keeping of drummerAlexis Fleisig (a name you might recognize as the drummer from GirlsAgainst Boys) and bassist Matthew Taylor. Over top of all this, singerGiovanna Cacciola moans out vague lines. Cacciola is the other linchpinon this album, her voice wavers from a soft coo to an assertive holler,all delivered in her deep and accented voice. Elsewhere, songs like“Raymond” crawls along a spiny guitar part and slow drum fills as thetensions slowly builds to a climax. While Bellini aren’t radicallychanging the way guitar rock is made or heard in 2005, Small Stonesexudes such confidence and swagger that it can’t help but not beignored.
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