Handmade Cities
A short clean guitar pattern opens Electric Sunrise, and Plini quickly makes it feel like the beginning of a larger place. The rhythm has an uneven turn, but the melody remains easy to follow as the arrangement grows around it. Handmade Cities keeps returning to that balance between detailed construction and a clear emotional impression.
The guitar often takes the role a singer might occupy. Plini shapes a phrase through small changes in attack, tone and timing, then lets faster playing extend the idea rather than replace it. Every Piece Matters is particularly effective because its central melody is strong before the arrangement becomes more elaborate. The gentle articulation gives the line character, while the later vocal texture adds another shade without turning the piece into a conventional song with lyrics.
Simon Grove's bass and Troy Wright's drums are essential to the movement. Inhale and Pastures give them room to establish grooves with identities of their own, making the music feel like a close ensemble performance. The longer Pastures changes shape several times, but its rhythmic thread stays clear enough to keep the sections connected. The title track also benefits from small background details, with keyboards adding depth around the guitar instead of competing for the main melody. The sound is bright and carefully separated, allowing quieter parts to remain meaningful beside the heavier passages.
The album occasionally returns to a similar uplifting emotional shape, and some transitions are more immediately attractive than surprising. Its range is narrower than the instrumental variety might first suggest. The closing Cascade makes a persuasive final statement, developing layers of guitar activity without losing the underlying sense of direction. The best passages throughout the record feel considered without sounding cautious. Plini's technical command gives him many options, but the music becomes distinctive through the choices he makes among them. A memorable phrase, a change in texture or a brief rhythmic interruption usually matters more than the fastest run, giving these pieces a welcoming character that extends beyond their impressive performances.
