Only Luna Knows
Ugly Cat, 2024
8/10
The Italian singer-songwriter Giulia Millanta returns with a 9th album, where 10 songs embrace a variety of influences that welcomes Don Antonio, Danilo Gallo and Diego Sapignoli, plus others.
The dreamy mood of “Fatale” starts the listen with Millanta’s distinct voice alongside crisp drums and rich strings, and “Luna, la Follia” follows with Gallo’s playfully plucked upright bass amid the stylish singing of the cultured climate.
Halfway through, “Stormy Night In Paradise” showcases Sapignoli’s thumping drums that suits the playful pop nods, while “I Dance My Way” starts soft before building into a frisky, dynamic album highlight that you can certainly dance to.
Approaching the end, the warm keys of “Love Is A Sadness Machine’ segues into cautious bass and emotive singing in a bit of a mysterious ambience, and “Mi Chiamava Lulu’” exits with a poetic, vocally focused finish of gorgeous minimalism.
Millanta is also a world class cook, and her influences from legends like Pink Floyd, Paul Simon and even opera won’t go unnoticed across this sophisticated and worldly affair.
Travels well with: Ezra Grey- Afterall; Ellen Woloshin- Pop Torch