Hôtel Morphée
A rather hectic August and September (all work and no play, a business trip to Europe followed by two and a bit weeks of well-earned R&R in MegaCity Tokyo and Vertical City Hong Kong - and then crashing back down to earth with jet-lag...) means that I'm a little bit tardy when it comes to blogging - even more so when a raft of excellent albums have been released of late (and to which my credit card has been squealing recently) - so without further ado it's time to start sharing my love of some great new albums...
Now the more observant of you may have read my fulsome praise of this next album in Guuz's excellent Filles Sourires blog, but it safe to say that the band in question, Montréal's Hôtel Morphée, are one of my favourite alternative indie rock bands (French-Canadian or otherwise - seriously, they are that good). I've previously been blown away by, and waxed lyrically about their deliciously dark, Gothic-tinged debut album, 2013's "Des histoires de fantômes" and so was eagerly awaiting their new album "Rêve américain" ("American Dream") that dropped earlier last month...
Whereas the band's 2013 debut was a dark, brooding and Gothic tinged, "Reve américain" has a more pronounced rock edge and the sound is altogether a more urgent, distorted, guitar-fuelled affair, as was revealed by the delicious subversiveness of the pumping teaser for the album "Dernier jour" with its thumping up-tempo rock sound overlaid with those trademark violins and Laurence Newbornne's gorgeous rasping vocals (which appear to have far more range and expression than previously noted on "Des Histoires des Fantômes.")
Now the more observant of you may have read my fulsome praise of this next album in Guuz's excellent Filles Sourires blog, but it safe to say that the band in question, Montréal's Hôtel Morphée, are one of my favourite alternative indie rock bands (French-Canadian or otherwise - seriously, they are that good). I've previously been blown away by, and waxed lyrically about their deliciously dark, Gothic-tinged debut album, 2013's "Des histoires de fantômes" and so was eagerly awaiting their new album "Rêve américain" ("American Dream") that dropped earlier last month...
Whereas the band's 2013 debut was a dark, brooding and Gothic tinged, "Reve américain" has a more pronounced rock edge and the sound is altogether a more urgent, distorted, guitar-fuelled affair, as was revealed by the delicious subversiveness of the pumping teaser for the album "Dernier jour" with its thumping up-tempo rock sound overlaid with those trademark violins and Laurence Newbornne's gorgeous rasping vocals (which appear to have far more range and expression than previously noted on "Des Histoires des Fantômes.")
This is further confirmed by the album's opening track, "Reve américain" - sombre keyboards buried beneath distorted, pounding bass - and some clever effects using Auto-Tune to play with Laurence's voice as she ever so matter-of-fact addresses dreaming "...that one was killed and that one was missing..."
As has been noted, while the musical direction of the album is a new departure, the band maintain the illusion of expertly wrapping disconcerting lyrics with punchy rhythms - "Psycholove" - a delectably noir love song for psychopaths, being a case in-point. Indeed the album explores the realities and myths of the American dream, walking as it does the tightrope between reverie and nightmares; exploring themes of love ("Soigne-moi"), sex ("Petite mort") and violence ("Des milliers de gens").
As has been noted, while the musical direction of the album is a new departure, the band maintain the illusion of expertly wrapping disconcerting lyrics with punchy rhythms - "Psycholove" - a delectably noir love song for psychopaths, being a case in-point. Indeed the album explores the realities and myths of the American dream, walking as it does the tightrope between reverie and nightmares; exploring themes of love ("Soigne-moi"), sex ("Petite mort") and violence ("Des milliers de gens").
All eleven songs here are frighteningly consistent in quality; the reflective "Je reviendrai" is totally structured around Laurence's auto-tuned and reverbed - almost tremolo vocals and gives me the shivers every time I hear it while "Tucson" paints a dystopian landscape as bleak as the city under a burning Arizona sun...
I’ve previously commented that for all the great pop, country and folk albums that the French-Canadian Provinces have produced, the French music scene on this side of the pond desperately needs bands capable of delivering the type of album that generates the "frisson" and buzz that the fusion of alternative and indie-rock provides.
With "Reve américain", Hôtel Morphée have delivered this album... Not only is this one of the best Francophone albums of the year - it's arguably one of the best albums of the year that straddles the lingual divide effortlessly.
Year-list... In either language.
I’ve previously commented that for all the great pop, country and folk albums that the French-Canadian Provinces have produced, the French music scene on this side of the pond desperately needs bands capable of delivering the type of album that generates the "frisson" and buzz that the fusion of alternative and indie-rock provides.
With "Reve américain", Hôtel Morphée have delivered this album... Not only is this one of the best Francophone albums of the year - it's arguably one of the best albums of the year that straddles the lingual divide effortlessly.
Year-list... In either language.
Hôtel Morphée website
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