Beauty In Chaos – Hollow’ ft. Cynthia Isabella
“Hollow” begins like a dream, developing slowly and gently, with Cynthia Isabella’s ethereal vocals flying above an ocean of reverbed gothic guitar from Michael Ciravolo. It’s a spooky opening that remembers the golden days of 4AD Records, with elements of Cocteau Twins and early This Mortal Coil. But, unlike its predecessors, “Hollow” doesn’t just wander around; it goes deeper and heavier as it goes. Yes, there is a dream pop pattern, but the distortion adds heaviness to the song, providing it a shoegaze-meets-darkwave edge that differentiates it. Ciravolo’s guitar technique combines shimmer and darkness, and at 2:02, a short nevertheless moving guitar solo emerges—a flash of sad beauty. It doesn’t steal the show, but it’s essential, providing just sufficient enthusiasm to boost the track without breaking its gentle magic. The tempo turns again at 3:25, when the speed slows and the vocals become quiet, almost whispers, as if secrets being revealed in the dark. This lonely moment is a highlight, allowing the music to breathe before recovering its original form—a type of gothic revival. Cynthia’s vocals are the track’s soul: ethereal, passionate, and controlled in all the right aspects. She does not oversing; rather, she “creeps.” Ciravolo’s smooth guitar work wraps around her voice like fog, lending the entire track a majestic, almost religious air.
Photo Credit: BIC & Cynthia Isabella photo by Kevin Estrada
https://www.beautyinchaosmusic.com
