This is the new release, the “Wedding Photos” LP (April 18, 2025) by Pieti, which follows the “Underneath” EP from 2023. I consider this album to be one of the standout releases of the era, as it came as a complete surprise to many listeners. Pieti has chosen to communicate solely through music and has avoided social media altogether. But who exactly is Pieti? Two craftsmen, Vandalorum and Krauhl, came together to explore and create darkwave music. They originate from the world of dark ambient music and dungeon synth soundscapes, and have produced a series of exquisite dark releases.
The album cover photo is by Panihida, and the record is of exciting, minimal, dark music with 8 brand new tracks of impressive performance and tales. There is nothing excessive here, even if it sounds quite gothic, and nothing happens in it to plunge you into darkness, despite being darkwave. The “Wedding Photos” tracks somehow serve as a summary of an ongoing experiment, a grand epic that we get to experience unfold through our stereo. The music predominantly features post-punk darkwave influences, with Vandal handling the production and instrumentation, while Krauhl provides the lyrics and vocals. For now (all good), I don’t believe that their next album will sound exactly like this one. While the band has a clear direction, I wouldn’t be surprised if they decide to switch their style in the future to something darker and more intense…and “engraved”; it’s their starting point that “concerns” me (the dark ambient dungeons), which is why I’m sayinging all this.
Things in the “Wedding Photos” LP are quite “passable”. Their music has a direct quality, demonstrating a strong understanding of the subject matter (the darkwave). Additionally, there is a clear, innate talent evident in all the songwriting on the album. The album features beautiful, dark melodies and a consistent tempo that enhances each track individually. Each song contains unique elements that distinguish it, along with narratives and lyrics that powerfully convey the themes and realities of their respective “little stories.” The storytelling often resonates deeply with the listener, vividly suggesting a strange existing world and perspective in every track…i.e;
“Sample of dialogue on “Clever Disarray” from an old tape cassette that was used by The Vandal’s grandmother in prison to pass along messages between cellmates. Woman’s name is unknown.”
Out of the eight tracks on this album, I’ll play all of them separately on the radio (I’ve already presented a couple of them). I genuinely enjoyed this album for the reasons I mentioned earlier. I don’t need a “fireworks” production to appreciate music; often, the essence of a track is apparent from a distance, and the album, “Wedding Photos,” is filled with such songs under its wings. Underground music records often possess the true depth and richness of music, and finally, that makes me shout, “What an amazing album this is!?”
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Written by Mike D.
