Lydia

Tender, touching and utterly serene indie rock led by absolutely angelic frontwoman/keyboardist Maria Sais de Sicilia is the order of the day on Lydia's latest, effort, Illuminate. Lydia isn't a girl; it's a band that employs the philosophy that slow and steady certainly wins the sonic race!

Illuminate is contemplative, somewhat maudlin music of which the centerpiece is the gorgeous way de Sicilia trades creamy vocal harmonies with guitarist/vocalist Leighton Antelman. The duo comprises the heart of the band, and they complement one another perfectly throughout the dreamy compositions that make up the entirety of Illuminate. If you're looking for upbeat pop, then you can skip past Illuminate, since the music isn't exactly engineered for the sunniest of days. Rather, when it's gloomy and you want nothing more than a cup of tea and a scratch pad, Illuminate avails itself as the perfect accoutrement for such a pursuit. It's also best listened to when in solitude, since the record gives off a hand-on-the-shoulder sort of comfort.

With the lilting, library-appropriate songs like the hushed "This is Twice Now," the thoughtful "I Woke Up Near the Sea" and the cleverly-titled, eruptive "A Fine Evening for a Rogue," Lydia prove the point that you needn't necessarily make a loud noise in order to truly be heard. The band's deft use of quietude, haunting harmonies and memorable melodies impact like their own little emotional bombs. Thankfully, Lydia never resorts to droning or whining, despite maintaining a tranquil pace throughout. The music is ultimately peaceful, as opposed to depressing, and with this style of music, that's not simple to do, but Lydia pulls off the feat like it was the easiest thing in the world.

You don't need to prefer precious, head-down indie rock to appreciate Lydia. You just need to take a "me" moment, zipper yourself away from the world and scribble in a journal when listening to Illuminate.

— Amy Sciarretto
11.18.08