Beauty in simplicity.
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| Look, guys! It's a giraffe! |
The most recent addition in Alcest's rather extended discography
was the first time I had ever even heard of the one-man project. After
listening to Cloudkicker's "Fade" a few years back and praising it as
one of my most favorite works ever, I decided to check out other stuff that
might be similar. Venturing into the world of shoegaze landed me here at the
door of "Shelter"--and man, am I ever glad that I showed up.
First and foremost, let's talk about the production of the album.
Quite frankly--it's gorgeous. This is like smooth chocolate or fine wine to the
ears, especially with a great set of headphones. Everything is rich and blended
smoothly into a concordant sound that is just so damn pleasing to hear. Even the
gratuitous fuzz, delay, and reverb combos that could easily overwhelm the rest
of the mix have been perfectly adjusted to let everything else sing along. It's
beautiful to listen to, and whoever was responsible for mixing needs some kind
of award for their hard work.
If you're out looking for music that weaves melodic lines in and
out of an overly complex structure, then you're probably not looking for a
shoegaze album, and you're definitely not looking for this album either.
"Shelter" is not trying to impress with technical guitar prowess or
uneven time signatures. Instead, it presents itself as a straightforward rock
album with catchy hooks and a man singing sweetly in what I presume is French.
However, it is the layered atmosphere above this presentation that thrusts the
album out into the spotlight and gives it such a lush, unique character. The
songs are not complex, but they are full of echoing reverb and lofty synth that
bring so much more to the table than the standard rock lineup ever could.
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| When not gazing at his shoes, Alcest prefers gazing at tree burls. |
This is where the album excels: creating so much out of so
little. Beyond the synth lines and effects
are subtleties that keep the
listener interested, such as adjusted chords and selective dissonance.
Personally, this attribute is my favorite thing about "Shelter";
there are so many minor details that are carefully placed throughout every song
to keep it all so interesting. At first listen, it might sound like something
much simpler that it is, but additional listening will reveal so many
delightful threads in a grandly woven tapestry.
There isn't much in the album that really is a negative. Some
might say that everything has a similar
feel with the formula of rock beat plus overarching synth, but I would highly
disagree--each song has its own personality that may not reveal itself until
repeated listening. I could also see a complaint about a lack of energy
overall, but being energetic isn't what "Shelter" is striving to be.
This is not an album to turn on to get you pumped before you go to the gym.
This music is the kind that you play as you sit at home with your favorite hot
beverage while rain patters on your window. Plodding and pensive, it's not
necessarily sad music; it's thinking music. You might look off into the
sky every now and then and recall various memories, or you might wonder about
the future that lay ahead. Whatever you might do, it's music for your mind as
well as your ears.
I haven't had the time to listen to anything else by Alcest yet,
but if "Shelter" is an indicator of his talent, then I definitely
will. This is a meticulously crafted album that excels in so many ways, and I
would highly recommend it to anyone looking for something different to enjoy.
Just make sure to give it your full attention for at least one listen, and I
guarantee you'll hear so many wonderful little details in a sea of atmosphere
and reverb. Alcest's "Shelter" soars up to a deserving:
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| 6 layers of atmosphere out of 7. |
