Diafanes

Created in 2002 by guitarist/vocalist Lorena Hollander and drummer Rafael Tortola, the quartet from Sao Paulo follows the style of Smashing Pumpkins: climatic rock, leaded by the vocalists delicate voice. The first cd, Diafanes, impresses. - Written by Thales de Menezes for the collumn: The new sound of Playboy

Diafanes

Alternative rock from Brazil

To keep our militance on the most absolute underground, Contrasurco presents a series of bands that work around the world and that would seldom have access to the traditional information channels.

And to begin with we shall make another militance, of our lusitan bonds, to present Diafanes. This is a brasilian band that comes to us from one of the megalopolis of the world, São Paulo, which has a papulation that excedes in many time the population of Galicia.

The group was formed in 2002 by Lorena Hollander – guitar/vocal, Ciro Visconti – guitar, Pietro Bergamo – bass, and Rafael Tortola – drums. In 2003 they recorded the single Love In / Wilt, which had some repercussion in Germany. Through this time they didn’t stop working in Brazil. Nowadays they are working in their first full-length album, that will be released this year of 2004.

Regarding their style we could define them as alternative rock, and they are always searching for original sounds and timbres. This comes from their more rocker influences (Smashing Pumpkins, Veruca Salt, Soundgarden, Radiohead, Pink Floyd,...) with ethnic sounds rom Brazil and other parts of the world.

They stress the arab and flamenco influences, even using some instrumentes related to this. As an example of this ecliticism, in their set list are versions of Chico Buarque and Radiohead.

You can check one of their songs in the radio-contra in the first two weeks of February. More informations in the website: http://www.diafanes.com.br. - Original text in Galician, taken from the Contrasurco website. Rock en Galicia – Feb 2004

Diafanes, band from São Paulo founded in 2002, aims to make rock with much artistic engagement. The band assumes the experimentalism and uses instruments such as snujs, castanets and theremin. The lyrics, all in english, are about the human condition in their social and personal aspects.

For the ones who don’t know, snujs are instruments inventes over 3000 years ago. They are two small metal cymbals, used for percussive effects, as the castanets. They are tied to the fingertips and can be used together with the belly dance, for instance. Now, the theremin is the grandpa of synthetizers. Invented in 1919, its made of a box and two antenas and produces sounds by frequency oscillations, as the musician moves his or her hands.

In the beginning of 2003, Diafanes composed the soundtrack of the dance presentation “Sequences”, by Laura Hallasz, presented in Berlin. The result of this project was the single “Love in/Wilt”, that mixes the peculiar vocal tone, melodic bass lines and heavy guitars and drums. Their second demo recorded in 2003, includes the single, three unreleased songs and a version of Chico Buarque’s “Deus lhe pague”. In this record, the band’s experimental side is more evident with some unusual musical structures, timbers and unexpected effects. These elements are brought about by the great diversity of influences of the members, reaching from Smashing Pumpkins, Veruca Salt, Soundgarden and Radiohead to classic bands such as Queen and Pink Floyd.

Diafanes, that in greek means transparent, is formed by Lorena Hollander, Ciro Visconti, Pietro Bergamo and Rafael Tortola.

Lorena is a musician and a plastic artist. Learned to play influenced by the 90’s bands. In Diafanes she plays guitar, snujs, castanets, sings and is the main composer.

Ciro Visconti, who plays theremin and guitar, is also a member of the bands Duna, Deep Purple Cover and the Quattuor guitar quartet. Is a teacher at the Souza Lima music school and conducts the guitar orchestra of Latin America.

Pietro Bergamo (bass and backing vocals) played with blues guitarist Nuno Mindelis in 1990-91. Has played in several bands with Ciro Visconti, including Duna, Deep Purple Cover and Corsário.

Rafael Tortola is a drummer since he was 13. Studied at the Souza Lima music school and plays with the bands The Giant and Ravennah.

Discography: Love in/Wilt (single, independent, 2003)

Demo CD (independent, 2003)

Demo CD: Live at CCSP (independent, 2003)

Email: diafanes@diafanes.com.br

Site: www.diafanes.com.br - MTV Brazil

Band from São Paulo that does a very careful alternative rock. The band is together for a short time now, but already shows a lot of quality. Keep your eyes on them. - Lady Killers, female vocal rock website.

The alternative rock band Diafanes has made another show to promote their single Love in/Wilt, which is among the top 25 of MP3.com for some weeks.

With a set list made basicly by their own songs, the group dared to play at the Dinossauros, a bar in São Paulo that, as the name suggests, is known by having Rock’n’roll classics, and play together with Rocktopus, well known in São Paulo and that fits well in the bar’s style.

Surprisingly the band was a success. The heavy, melodic and original sound hooked even the waiters.

The band is formed by Lorena Hollander (vocal/guitar/composer and band founder), Ciro Visconti (guitar), Pietro Bergamo (bass) and Rafael Tortola (drums). Besides the hits like “Wilt”, “Love in” and “Open your eyes”, the band presented versions of “Shout”, by Tears for Fears, and “Deus lhe pague”, by Chico Buarque, being this last one really special. Apart all this, the great surprise of the evening was the new song “Shrub”, which has some oriental taste and a fantastic feature of the singer Lorena playing snuj, an arab percussion instrument similar to the castanets.

With heavy guitars and a high pitched voice, somewhat heavenly, the band is now present in the alternative rock scene, highlighted by their originality, lyrics and visual effects.

It is said that their site has hidden links!

With all this, one can say that Diafanes came to being to make history in the rock scenary. This is what we shall see with thier first album, to be ready in the second semester of 2003...See through! - Review in the Mundorock.net website about the band’s show on May 24, 2003, at the Dinossauros Rock B

Columbus Alive (USA)

October 22, 2007: Columbus, Ohio

Smashing borders

The examples of world music that make it to our shores are usually heavy on the indigenous sounds of the band's home country.

Sao Paulo, Brazil's indie-rock quartet Diafanes aren't without the clitter-clat of a flamenco beat, but the five-year-old band counts Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, Garbage and prog-rock legends King Crimson as its strongest influences.

On a sampling of songs from Diafanes' See Through, released in the U.S. in 2005, the sometimes haunting little-girl leads of founder and vocalist Lorena Hollander stand up surprisingly well to the wail and moan from guitarist Ciro Visconti.

Visconti also adds Theremin to the collection of unique instruments building the sound, such as snuj (finger cymbals), derbake drum and castinets. It's an unusual combination, both radio-friendly and experimental, at once reminiscent of the band's easily recognizable influences and a thing unto itself.

What: Diafanes - When: Friday, July 6 - Where: High Five, Short North - Web: myspace.com/diafanes

Along with Diafanes' own music, you may hear a cover of one of its idols when the band plays an early show at High Five, part of its U.S. summer tour.

—Melissa Starker - Columbus Alive

Obliveon Magazine (Germany)

Diafanes consider themselves artists, who feel constrained to quality, what doesn't exclude musical success.

And it's shown already in the debut, since "See Through" was already published on 17.09.2005 in the US together with 2 singles 'Love Me' and 'Inside Me', from which the first was already shown already in 2004 on the Brazilian MTV.

Even if success is programmable, one has to put some after of course.

Besides two additional singles, the new songs "Unity" and "High Heels", the new album is already in the making, which should be called "Obviously Clear" and is to be expected still this year.

Furthermore there will be a video clip for the single "Unity".

The music of "Diafanes" is quite alternative and experimental, what is due to the various musical influences like Soundgarden, Queen, Pink Floyd or Smashing Pumpkins – quite much rock with a touch of gothic - of the band members.

Elements like flamenco not only mix up, but also put – I refer especially to "Inside me", which I consider the highlight of the album – an additional component to the general impression, which causes the necessary diversion and variety.

The experimental side is caused by interesting tunes and effects, which are blended in harmonic structures.

Musically, it seems "See through" is very detailed, but not exhausting or overloaded.

Because of the class of the musicians "See Trough" is a compact and complex experience, of which the 13 tracks are dominated by Lorena Hollander, who is either bewitching with a soft voice, or acting like a siren.

Her singing surely takes getting used to, but is a good contract to other known gothic singers.

Considered that the band produced the album by themselves, one has to compliment the good result.

The sound is transparent, the bass adequate and the instruments can be nicely separated and recognized.
For this debut I can attest a strong presentation, which I give 8 points and an editorial pick. - Obliveon Magazine (Germany)

Diafanes is a new voice in the Brazilian Alternative Rock scene. Lyrics in English and a mix of a female pop vocal, very well interpreted by Lorena Hollander, with heavy guitars. See Through is a heavy album with room for experiments. - Modern Drummer Magazine (Brazil)

"See Through" is a series of complex layers of sound, laid together and organized brilliantly. The guitars chime an evocative, classical metal sound while vocalist Lorena pipes in with a soft, gentle voice. It's a great combination. Diafanes music is a cosmic rock, hard to compare to anyone, highly contagious. From the radio friendly grunge of "Love In" to the otherworldly Dead Can Dance meets Rush style of "Inside Me", these São Paulo natives could be the band you're soon telling everyone about.
R.I.Y.L.: Rush meets Dead Can Dance - IndependentsOnly.com (USA)

The look of the cover and inlay announce a band that is more mature. Evidence that extends to the songs, 15 in total. The Diafanes have a connection with the visual arts. There is a kind of exchange between the textures of the songs and a painted canvas.

"Obviously Clear" takes advantages of the successes of the previous disc, See Through, and presents a work more robust. The band keeps its nucleus intact, with Lorena Hollander (guitar, koto, percussion and voice), Ciro Visconti (guitar, theremin and lap steel) and Rafael Tortola (drums and percussion). The only change was that Samuel Denicol (bass) joined the band.

The Diafanes, that just before the release went on tour in the United States, knows where to lead their music. Tracks such as "A New Melody", "High Heels" and "In Your Pockets" reveal the perfect harmony between Lorena Hollander and Ciro Visconti. Both established a friendly dialogue between guitar lines – heavy riffs that flirt with solos and interventions well implemented. The solo of W.G.Y.U. for example, a rare piece, is sensational.

The timbres are the seasonings for the entire alchemy to work. The mixture of basic quartet (voice-guitar-bass-battery) and exotic instruments generate a peculiar sound. In "Obviously Clear", Diafanes improved themselves, showing a rich and creative music. - Guitar Player Brazil