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the love experts
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cuba street
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cuba street is both the long-awaited EP from st. louis' esteemed love experts, and a street in wellington, new zealand. not only is the geography inspiration for the songs, they share common traits: both exude a special alchemy of energy, history and euphonious noise. steve carosello's lyrics and lead vocals hint at a youth spent listening to roxy music, but digs deeper to expose rawer emotions. dominic finocchio, dave collett, steve scariano and bob trammell provide a tight but jangly frame for carosello's dramaturgy. undertow is pleased to push the love experts' compelling art out of the basement clubs of st. louis and into the ears of a wider audience. they deserve it.
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band biography
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When Dominic Finocchio (guitar), Dave Collett (guitar), Steve Scariano (bass), and Bob Trammel play the songs of Steve Carosello, they create the music of The Love Experts. As befits a lifetime of musical passions, Carosello's writing encompasses an encyclopedic variety of styles and genres, reflecting such influences as Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, John Cale, Bryan Ferry, Tim Finn, and Thin White Rope. The remaining Love Experts likewise bring a wide array of experiences to these songs, providing assertive yet sensitive counterpoint to their unflinching rock band sound.
Carosello's distinctive tenor leads the way through the intricate musical arrangements, portraying a wide range of emotions and moods. Powerful, pitch-perfect, and unexpectedly tender, his voice evokes those of other great singers who have specialized in emotional portrayal, such as Roy Orbison and Love's Arthur Lee.
The Love Experts' sound reflects a rare lack of indebtedness to blues and R & B. Although there are no keyboards in the actual band, all the music begins on Carosello's piano. His classical training -- particularly his study of Bartok, Smetana, Stravinsky, and other composers whose themes originated in the folk musics of their various countries of origin -- informs his songwriting. Exploring these roots lends a haunting melodic element to the five-piece guitar-band template.
The band performs infrequently in the St. Louis area but plans to visit other cities to promote the new CD.
Named after a centrally located shopping area in Wellington, New Zealand, Cuba Street comprises six songs that reflect the variety and versatility of the Love Experts' vast catalog. These are songs you've loved your whole life. Hear them now... for the first time.
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press
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playbackstl
The Love Experts: Cuba Street (Undertow Music)
In even the most jaded music fan, certain CDs can still spark enthusiasm verging on rapture. The Love Experts’ Cuba Street numbers among such rare discs; its delivery in the daily mail literally inspired gooseflesh. Dozens of spins since that delivery have in no way lessened the excitement inspired by the six-track Undertow release. If anything, the crystalline concision of Cuba Street should have discerning listeners clamoring for more—though pragmatists among such listeners, in all likelihood, will content themselves with the tracks at hand, given the band’s legendary blend of perfectionism and reclusiveness. (The Love Experts reportedly have been thrilling St. Louisans live since 1988, but this EP more or less marks their recording debut. Would that any number of other, lesser bands had exercised such discretion.)
Pragmatists will also reflect that even the cheapest boom boxes have replay buttons—and Cuba Street should leave such buttons hard-pressed. Thereon, over the rock-solid bass of Steve Scariano and percussion of Bob Trammel, Dave Collett and Dominic Finocchio engage in a guitar duel by turns stinging and shimmery, their instrumentation impeccably framing the vocals of Steve Carosello, author of the EP’s allusive and graceful offerings. Carosello’s deceptively powerful tenor centers each song with uncanny ease, infusing it with understated emotion—hurt and hope dancing an impromptu but breathtaking pas de deux to music echoing toward today from both yesterday and tomorrow. “Cuba Street,” “Your Shining Hour,” “Lida’s Song,” “Reveille,” and “Can’t Tell You” form an irresistible sequence to “Bright Red Carnation,” the disc’s closer, which Carosello opens by asking, “What do you think about black and white? What do you think about gray?” The Love Experts’ Cuba Street admits no grays, ironically but happily enough: it’s bravura work, a tour de force that comes with the highest recommendation. | Bryan A. Hollerbach
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