Sara De Sanctis “Fading”

Time seems to move faster when Sara De Sanctis is on the radio. “Fading” is one in particular that almost upsets you when it ends. Besides her intoxicating vocal and poised songwriting, the track embraces a filmic sparseness and captivation that feels so elegant and poignant. There’s heavy classical elegance in it, but Sara De Sanctis delivers a melancholy, out-of-this-world aesthetic that’s hard to shake off.

“Fading” is about obsession and losing control of oneself, which the sonic deterioration depicts. Impressionistic but rich of stories, like soundtracks in a film that decorates and infects the mood and atmospheric. Her floral vocal of a vivid color. It feels like the ocean waves at times, salty and humid; then at other times, it’s like roses at night, urban, intoxicating with fragments.

Sara De Sanctis’ piano flows through her every single piece. It lays the foundation, but there’s always soul in her playing. Whenever the rhythm, the pace, the pattern changes, it breathes in and breathes out. On the other hand, Thom Yorke’s influence on “Fading” is quite obvious. The track embraces The Smile type of splattering drums that flows through the slow-burning, moody brew. There’s also a hint of Yorke’s highly artistic aesthetic in play in this track, it’s introspective but textural.

Sara De Sanctis is trained in the classical way as pianist. She parted ways when discovered her love in original composition and singer-songwriting. There’s no doubt about her talent in the path she chose. Her sound reminds listeners of a sensitive Agnes Obel and textural yet unique PJ Harvey.