Their recent single ”Naked” proves yet again why Shape Of Water are one of the most thrilling genre bending bands in the UK alternative scene. The trio originates out of Manchester and mixes electronic art rock with film-like textures to create a seductive, participatory atmosphere that lingers much after the last note.
”Naked” is a thought provoking treatise of intimacy, vulnerability and crude emotion. The song begins with a melodic tension that is eerie in nature, gradually leading to a chorus that is expansive and confessional. Lead singer Rossano Capriotti gives an exquisite performance his voice wavering between alluring and agonized, supported by Luca De Falco with his opulent playing of the guitar and Tom Moks with his strong, yet convincing drumming.
The balance of haunting synths and pulsating beats, the bold and poetic lyrics and their resulting reverie of passion and release at the end of a long day is what makes Naked so compelling. It is erotic but not excessive, it is dramatic but not out of control. Not only is this a prelude to the next third album of Shape Of Water, but it also establishes them as a band that is not afraid to lay bare their artistic truth even when it is not polished and refined.
