Mathilde Forget

Back in February the team at Filles Sourires raved about Mathilde Forget’s single "Les detours" that was released in advance of her forthcoming EP. I was so impressed that I actually contacted Mathilde and requested that if possible her EP would be released on this side of the Pond.

Seems my wish was answered as "Le sentiment et les forêts" finally arrived Stateside last month...

It’s always a great feeling to revisit a favourite track, especially when you get that same frisson of excitement - but there is something incredibly hypnotic and intoxicating about "Les detours"; haunting, melancholic keys, breathless vocals with just a hint of echo... And then a sparse reverbed guitar lifts the melody, there's the most gorgeous of choruses and an ephemeral piano coda to fade...  

There are no two ways to say this, but I think that "Les detours" has to be one of my favourite songs of 2014, especially when coupled with the most compelling of videos.

But it's as I'm listening to "A l'usure" that it dawns on me why I so love this EP, why I'm physically moved, why the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.... It's all here... the sparse aural landscapes that are conjured up here; the delicious mix of electronics and synth drums alongside guitar, piano and cello; how Mathilde's vocals seemingly float gracefully above the melody...  While Mathilde cites Benjamin Biolay, Emilie Simon and Cat Power as major influences, it seems to these ears - similar to my recent post about Marion Elgé - that Mathilde's style again stands a more than favourable comparison with talents travers la mer; in her case the  Québécois Chloé Lacasse and Salomé Leclerc.  The fact that both of these artists released stunning Year-listed albums emphasises how enamoured I am by this EP.

With just a beguiling hint of echo, Mathilde's wistful, breathless voice are once again the focal point of "Au bord des rivières", but slowly an arresting and hypnotic reverbed beat transitions to the foreground and while it threatens to veer the song towards the dance-floor, is never allowed to detract from the irresistible vocals. However, this is arguably the most 'poppy' of the quartet here and has drawn comparison with Christine and The Queens (I can't really comment, as unlike Mathilde, Héloïse Letissier's albums are only available on import here... wib...)

But all to soon this EP approaches its conclusion (luckily there's auto-repeat). "Vue sur la mer" is just a beautiful song. It's reflective, sentimental - and just  the perfect marriage of voice and piano - but then there is the most gorgeous of middle-eights; melancholic, a haunting trumpet and angelic chorus intertwine with piano before the song fades to the sound of the sea lapping gently on the shore - utterly mesmerising, as this video of a live acoustic version ably demonstrates.

The quality across the four tracks across "Le sentiment et les forêts" is absolutely frightening. It's an EP that deserves to be in any discerning record collection. I also can't stress how amazing an artist  - as composer, song-writer and Chanteuse - Mathilde Forget is.

Mathilde Forget  Website
"Le sentiment et les forêts" iTunes