Slove -‘Le Danse’ October 3rd

Be warned, Slove are highly addictive. This bold French band mold the flamboyance of indie pop music into the sophistication of today’s electronica. Their debut album ‘Le Danse’ expresses a genuine diversity and intrinsic understanding of the desires of the next generation.

‘Le Danse’ sounds like a new age Sonic Youth or Sebastian Tellier’s take on Primal Scream. At times fierce and others seductive, Slove always approach their music with an expert level of production and are inventing a new strain of hedonistic pop music that is both fast and slow.

Their backbone lies in the late 80s and early 90s as well as the Hacienda Manchester period and traces of their indie dance idols My Bloody Valentine, The Smiths, Pale Saints, Slowdive can often be heard in ‘Le Danse’. Slove’s two founding members: Léo Hellden & Julien Barthe are involved in several of the most exciting projects shaking up todayʼs French scene (Aswefall, Tristesse Contemporaine for Léo, Plaisir de France and Sweetlight / Abusator for Julien).

Label: Pschent
Cat no: 3247962
Web: www.pschent.com
Distribution: Wagram
Released: Monday October 3rd, 2011

Tracklist

1. Le Danse
2. Do We Need?
3. The Brightest
4. Flash
5. Noisy Neige
6. DMGM
7. My Pop
8. Carte Postale
9. Find Out
10. If Only I Had

‘Le Danse’ starts in a laidback demeanor as Slove embody the textures of a psychedelic Stone Roses on their title track. Strung-out guitars are interlaced with light snares and hi-hats while the murmured male vocals of Maik (Earthling/Telepopmusik etc) anchor the electronics as they soar.

‘Do We Need’ pursues a hastier path and electro-rock attitude. Slove’s characteristic purring bass guitar is charged with string synths and the fervent vocals from Olivier Rocabois growl with intensity. A pop composer and singer, Rocabois is the leader of the French band All If and has a voice sweet with notoriety. The ensuing ‘The Brightest’ revisits the vocals of Maik as Slove start to playfully flaunt their adventurous and dissonant style.

An instant classic, ‘Flash’ is a lightning bolt of pure decadent pop. The sensual vocals of Mississippi born Sarah Krebs elevate ‘Flash’ to dizzying heights, its trembling keys sending sparks from its anthemic core. Krebs likes to sing, smoke, play poker, walk barefoot in the woods and watch the sunrise over the Mexico Gulf. She rasps at high voltage in the feverish ‘Noisy Neige’, a pool of surplus energy that invites the listener to dive between waves of cavernous guitar. Her tender female cries are the focus of the compelling and Intriguing, ‘DMGM´. A slow and fragile ballad amidst the anarchy, this is a picture postcard in a box of expressionism. Its brief ninety seconds highlight her ethereal vocals as they harmonise with delicate piano chords potent with desire. Wholly eccentric and flawlessly dreamy, these three hypnotic songs kindle at the heart of Slove’s message. 

Slove reignite their electronic spirit for ‘My Pop’, a fluid yet discordant creation that bubbles with effervescent strings. The mischievious ‘Carte Postale’ is propelled by the pulse of Anne Laure’s vocal as the Parisien counts relentlessly; “Une, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, seize, sept, huit…,” her passionate voice lingering on the words. ‘Find Out’ sees Laure return in a more delirious manner, her weightless vocals guiding a softly strung approach as ‘Le Danse’ concludes as it began, returning to subdued guitar tones and a relaxed tempo. A tranquil end, ‘If Only I Had’ resonates with harmonious bass and tickled guitar strings as Rocabois’ meditative voice moves the mood back to bitter sweet.

Slove features a small army of talented vocalists for ‘Le Danse’ and their live shows have begun to enrapture audiences. Released on Pschent, the label that brought us the Hotel Costes series and this year’s smash Discodeine (featuring Jarvis Cocker), Slove are pushing musical boundaries from within their homeland. They are a leap away from France’s traditional dance music heroes such as Justice and his Ed Banger crew and heavyweights Daft Punk. More in line with current British and US bands the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Everything Everything, Slove’s interpretation is sexier and more refined and their cult indie outfit are managing to conquer both fashion and music circles.

Slove build new bridges between the colliding worlds of indie and electronica in ‘Le Danse’, an intoxicating and endlessly appealing album that is a true testament to their versatility. 

For more info on Slove visit www.plaisirdefrance.net/artistes/slove