Well, this is ‘nice’ and that makes a change as it’s not a word that we use that often around these here parts. If you are looking for an album to while away a summer afternoon, lying on back in a field and watching clouds form shapes as they float across the sky this will certainly do the job. This Parisian duo comprise of Diane Pellotieri; vocals, guitar, bass and keyboards along with Clément Hateau; drums, bass, keyboards with the inclusion of a couple of notable guests along the way. They play dreampop, shoegaze or whatever you want to call it but older readers will no doubt be completely in tune with the style just by casting minds back to the 80’s and thinking of formative Indie label 4AD and artists such as The Cocteau Twins and This Mortal Coil. Also, if you were wondering, their odd name is inspired by (in my opinion) hugely overrated slacker novel, The Catcher In The Rye by JD Salinger.
Introductions over, it’s time to focus on the music of this their second album and follow up to ‘Don’t Believe, Watch Out’ and if you choose to do so immerse yourself in its narrative to do with “identity” and how it effects humanity in the choices they make through life. Trippy sounds of what could be a triangle being tapped give way to drums, bass and the delicious voice of our vocalist as we flow into opener ‘What They Need. It immediately casts you back in time to the aforementioned artists along with heft from throbbing lines reminiscent of The Gathering. Delicacy is all part of the genre but here that is not the case here due to strength of production and there is plenty of heft behind it. Instantly accessible it puts a smile on the face even if it is set to zero via the title of the second track. Shimmering and glistening away with some excellent guitar lines it transfixes both musically and vocally with a both a certain care-free pop laden bounce as well as an underlying sense of dourness, which I guess is projected due to the subject matter.
For those that lived by their radio listening to the familiar tones of John Peel, Annie Nightingale and Janice Long introduce the newest song from Lush, Slowdive, Curve et al this won’t be as original a listen as it may be to others. Still there is plenty of nostalgic charm here and its like being cast back into an older life bringing memories flooding back. As far as the ‘identity’ aspect is concerned I am not alone in having it forged by moments just like this. The ten tracks we get are all well-thought out and never overstay their hypnotic welcome, the entire album drifting like those clouds across the sky over a 40-minute playing time. After a midpoint instrumental ‘Sigh’ allows focusing on just the musicianship we get the guest-spots over the two-part ‘The Run.’ Yes, we know the bands that formed the style but one person certainly developed it for a new-wave of listeners and it seems only right that Neige from Alcest adding his beseeching tones as a perfectly-placed harmonic duet with Diane. The second part’s vocal foil is much more understated as the song descends moves further into smoky and diaphanous realms but somewhere in there is Justin K. Broadrick. As far as he is concerned you are much better placed thinking of Jesu than anything else he has been involved in.
‘Brutal In Red’ is anything but, bubble-gum pop along with the wield of thick bass lines and by closer ‘Inner’ I still have a smile on my face and the sun is still shining. It’s going to be a nice day all-round I think.
(7.5/10 Pete Woods)
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