The fact that Carlos Ucedda came back is something very disturbing and it captures your attention instantly. The single, titled “Open Poison,” is like entering a dark and beautiful cathedral where shadows play with the light and every note speaks of the classical training mixed with the modern electronic experimentation.
The aspect that has impressed me most is how Carlos has managed to develop his sound and still remain true to his operatic origins. His falsetto voice rides on top of the dismal percussion in another-worldly fashion that is truly haunting. There is this really intriguing balance between the sacred and the profane that he achieves by interlacing operatic tones with gothic industrial textures and it is something I have never heard in modern electro-pop.
This is darker ground where the Granada-based artist has evidently found his voice. After his last two releases, which were also a two-part affair, Open Poison digs further into that gothic synthwave world, yet with a refinement that points to his classical roots. The heavily layered synths also provide a flawless accompaniment to his theatric vocal style, giving the entire song a sense of both antiquity and modernity.
The ghostly production combined with the experimental lyricism does make it truly emotional. The disciple of decades of musical education can be heard in each well-chosen note, but there is a freshness and immediacy which makes it not academic. The music video is a powerful gothic performance filmed in the ancient stone ruins with expressive dancing and bright costume design that is covered with a cool and somber blue colour.
Carlos has created something that is provocative but manages to be immensely accessible. The combination of post-punk and the new wave elements are so smooth and the sound is theatrical, yet not pretentious. It is as though the songwriter has finally found his niche and is someone who knows that darkness and beauty are not mutually exclusive, but are in essence complementary. Open Poison is a thrilling new phase in the career of one of the most interesting voices in Europe.
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