Arma Del Amor – Onna Bugeisha
(Independent)
Reviewed by Bridget Herlihy.
Sometimes, just sometimes, an album will come along that not only captures your attention, but provides an ethereal soundscape that you can lose yourself in. Wanaka duo Arma Del Amor, which loosely translates to ‘Machine of Love’, is comprised of Martine Harding and Danny Fairley, have achieved this and more with their exquisitely mesmerizing debut full-length album Onna Bugeisha. Having already forged a reputation for delivering impressive live shows throughout the country, Harding and Fairley have captured the essence of their live performances beautifully, with a “musical odyssey” the moves effortlessly between moody and dark electronic tracks and more upbeat tunes. At its very core, Onna Bugeisha is the fruit of Harding and Fairley’s desire to set aside genre-specific expectations in favor of presenting their audience with a sonic terrain of juxtaposed sounds.
Opening track Seppuku, which seamlessly segues into the haunting Diamond Mind Theory, sets the proverbial bar for this album incredibly high with heavy beats and the melancholy vocals of Harding. The more upbeat and undeniably catchy Usurper is an anthem waiting to happen, while the absolutely, totally and utterly spellbinding Retrogress soars to the highest of musical highs with a sound that is perhaps best described as other-worldly. Shapeshifter front man Pdigsss also makes a guest appearance to provide vocals for Undertow, which adds yet another dimension to this multi-faceted album. Each and every track tells its own distinctive story, both lyrically and musically, with each successive listen revealing even more layers ripe for auditory exploration.
Onna Bugeisha is a quite simply a modern masterpiece; it is not only one of the most exciting debut albums from a New Zealand band this year, but it will also undoubtedly remain one of the most exciting albums of 2018. Play loud, play often, and for a truly immersive experience listen through a pair of good quality headphones and let yourself get lost in Arma Del Amour’s divine soundscape.
This content is a part of our NZ Music Month coverage, celebrating old, new and upcoming Kiwi artists. For more information on NZ Music Month you can visit their website.
