A ballot nomination for the Grammy® Awards in 2008 is some achievement, but a ballot nomination for an unsigned band is something else, a bit like this album really. Just listen to Luana’s extraordinary vocals on “Phoenix Rising” and welcome to the world of “Belladonna”. In the press release that accompanied this CD it mentions that this group is unique and after grabbling around for a few minutes I decided that was the only word that sums them up. “Till Death Do Us Part” has an almost haunted feel to it and is followed by yet another beautiful vocal on “A Manhattan Tale” topped off with a soothing guitar solo. When they decide to up the tempo on songs such as “Lust Never Sleeps” you just feel compelled to pick up the lyric sheet and follow along as everything about this group is so goddamn catchy. When you get songs like “Pure Belladonna” starting off with just a piano and Luana’s voice and then the guitar and drums kick in you begin to understand that comparing this to any other artist is a touch difficult and best left for the listener to make there own mind up, all I can add to this review is what a wonderful listen “The Noir Album” is and that they are playing upstairs at the garage in London on Nov 26th, this I can guarantee will be everyone’s last chance to see them in such a small venue before they go stratospheric

Reviewed by Speedy Hicks.