Review | Adrian Da Silva’s new outfit Still Minds won’t disappoint Audiotraffic aficionados
Hong Kong talent Da Silva shows off his Brit rock chops with this debut release from his new quartet, Still Minds
Still Minds
Love Da Records
Anyone familiar with the local music scene will know that the devilishly youthful-looking Adrian Da Silva is no new kid on the block. The 30-something songwriter grew up in Hong Kong and came to prominence in the noughties with the widely adored Audiotraffic, regional winners of the World Battle of the Bands competition in 2004. Still Minds is Da Silva’s new project – and fans of the singer-guitarist’s former band will not be disappointed. He’s joined here by guitarist Tony Lee, bassist Noriko Watanabe and former Audiotraffic drummer Masaki Heung, and this debut is the sound of the quartet’s musical worlds colliding. While it’s firmly grounded by polished 1990s Brit rock roots (as on Mansunesque standout track Out of Line and acoustic closer Sad Song), Lee’s love of blues brings a welcome Black Keys-style grittiness to the hard-punching Do I. Great stuff.