“Rose Chamber, named after what might be my favorite Mutually Assured Destruction song, is the duo of Ace Stallings and his Sentinel bandmate Evan Schlomann. On Twitter, Stallings says, “I’ve always wanted to try my hand at doing a synth/new wave project. Rose Chamber is for fans of various 80’s inspirations.” The duo’s new four-song debut cassette State Of Affairs is still tough and muscular, and it makes great use of Ace’s titanic bellow. The songs are short, and the riffs are hard. But the whole sound is really on that vampire shit — drum machines, one-finger keyboard riffs, evil basslines, reverb and echo all over everything. Highlight “Past Sins” sounds a bit like what might’ve happened if Glenn Danzig had tried to become Peter Murphy. It’s really good!” –stereogum
“Olinda are back with their latest single ‘Reverie’, another masterclass in indie pop in 2023. Like a lost cut from an old FIFA soundtrack that never was; springy guitars and synthesized nods to Psychedelic Furs give way to a chorus straight from the Gallagher brother’s song sheet. As with last single ‘Dreams in Transit’, its 4 minute run time eludes the listener and does nothing to diminish from its pure, pop credentials. The vocals employ a higher register than previous singles, with frontman Josh Klein sounding at his most angelic when in fact ‘every day feels like hell.’ Lyrically we encounter a sense of camaraderie in mutual despair, the yearning for brighter days, the lost art of…I don’t know…having a bloody laugh? Musically ‘Reverie’ features some of Peter Burke’s finest guitar playing yet. Sleek and measured trills lead to a solo that could make John Squire just stick to the paintbrush for good. And while our singer’s malaise is at the forefront, a bopping synth line remains all the more apparent and infectious.”