Review: Cinema Stereo – 12:34
Cinema Stereo brings classic rock instincts, new wave energy and modern production together on a confident and varied debut album
Cinema Stereo – 12:34
Format: CD / Limited-Edition Vinyl / Digital
Label: Cargo UK
Release date: October 2, 2026
There is something immediately familiar about Cinema Stereo, yet the Nashville-based trio is not particularly easy to place in one musical corner. On ’12:34′, classic rock, new wave and alternative rock regularly cross paths, held together by strong melodies and an energetic band sound.
Cinema Stereo consists of Ian Rayha on vocals, bass, guitar and keyboards, Sebastian Borysek on lead guitar and Jeffrey Lageveen on drums. The album was recorded at The Smoakstack with producer Paul Moak, who gives the twelve tracks a polished sound without removing the energy at the heart of the band.
Opener Flood makes that clear immediately, with guitars and a driving rhythm section setting the pace. Elsewhere, Now We Feel Special shows the band’s melodic side, while A Moment of Feeling Alone introduces more space and restraint.
One of the strongest tracks is Expectations. A sturdy guitar riff, memorable chorus and plenty of forward momentum bring together several of Cinema Stereo’s qualities in one song. It also demonstrates how naturally the trio moves between a classic rock foundation and a more contemporary alternative sound.
The variety becomes increasingly important as ’12:34′ progresses. Acoustic textures appear alongside the electric guitars, while All I Want introduces an offbeat, almost reggae-influenced rhythm. The brief instrumental passages add atmosphere and prevent the album from becoming a straightforward collection of guitar-driven rock songs.
Cinema Stereo openly acknowledge influences including Queen, The Police, Cheap Trick, Aerosmith and The Killers. Those references can certainly be heard, but the album is at its best when they overlap and become less easy to identify individually.
Photo: John Gilhooley
Closing track Proxima gives the band more room to stretch out. At around five and a half minutes, it is the album’s longest song, allowing Borysek’s guitar a more prominent role while the arrangement gradually expands towards the finish.
Producer Paul Moak deserves credit for keeping all these different elements together. Guitars, keyboards, synthesizers and layered vocals add detail, but underneath the production ’12:34′ still sounds like the work of three musicians playing together as a rock band.
For a debut album, ’12:34′ sounds remarkably assured. Cinema Stereo are not hiding their influences, nor are they trying to reinvent rock music. Instead, they use those influences as a starting point for twelve varied songs with strong hooks, plenty of energy and enough unexpected turns to keep things interesting.
Most importantly, ’12:34′ suggests a young band already developing a personality of its own. Cinema Stereo have one foot firmly planted in rock history, but this debut gives them plenty of room to decide where the other one will take them next.
Tracks:
01. Flood
02. Over The Edge
03. Now We Feel Special
04. A Moment of Feeling Alone
05. 12:34
06. Expectations
07. Ride To The Sun
08. Flowers
09. Lean On You
10. All I Want
11. Tears
12. Proxima
Website: https://www.cinemastereo.us/
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