In case you haven't kept up with the indie math-rock that bands such as Don Cab and Shipping News helped pioneer — maybe you thought that it had become too repetitive after its late-'90s swell in popularity — Stella arguably represents the apex of where this style of music could and should evolve. It also demonstrates a welcome evolution in the dogmatic production of Steve Albini, who has managed to capture every microscopic nuance of this Sicilian quartet's tones with startling clarity without employing his usual harsh mixing preferences. Albini's finesse affords the winding, seething music breathtaking texture. Though Uzeda still relies on indie hallmarks such as off-kilter rhythms, the band transcends genre here and leaves a classic in its wake.
