Vona Vella have undergone a striking metamorphosis, trading the polished constraints of their 2023 debut for something far more visceral. With the release of 'Carnival', the core duo of Izzy Davis and Dan Cunningham has expanded into a formidable five-piece, ditching backing tracks in favour of a loose, guitar-driven energy. This shift wasn’t accidental; it was born from the adrenaline of their first headline tour. As Izzy Davis explains, "We wanted to ditch backing tracks, not stay on the grid for anything, in terms of being perfect. We wanted everything to be loose and different every time we played it, depending whatever mood we were in."
Recorded at The Albion Rooms in Margate with producer Jason Stafford, Carnival captures a band grappling with the turbulence of adulthood. The title itself serves as a metaphor for the dizzying juggle of music careers, day jobs, and constant relocation. “'Carnival', it’s like in life, you’re going round in circles and everything’s kind of blurry,” Izzy notes. “But it’s really colourful, really beautiful as well.” Dan adds a sobering layer to this perspective: “You’re enjoying the ride, but you’re not sure what’s really going on.” This sense of bewildered momentum permeates the tracks, which explore the jagged edges of human fragility and fractured romances.
Musically, the album sits in a sweet spot where jangly indie-pop meets a darker, dream-pop undertone. 'Bass Driver' is a standout, channelled through the raw influence of The Breeders and the theatrical weight of The Last Dinner Party. The track thrives on its refusal to be cluttered, allowing Davis’s vocals to shift from a delicate breathiness to a commanding presence alongside the guitars. In contrast, 'Exit Plan' offers a fleeting, ninety-second moment of acoustic vulnerability. It’s a brave interlude that strips away the band's new-found volume to let the raw emotion land.
While the lyrics often skew towards the melancholic, particularly on the brooding closer 'Bottled', the arrangements remain resiliently jaunty. It is a coming-of-age record that acknowledges that while "not everyone’s out there to do a good thing for you," as Dan puts it, there is still a reason to keep the melody moving. 'Carnival' is a defiant, textured step forward that proves Vona Vella are at their best when they let the cracks show.
