City of Exiles - Sleeper Hunter

Dear Guillaume,

When I listened to this new record, the 3th in 4 years, of City of Exiles, the band of which you are the singer, the instigator, the songwriter, in short in a word the leader, I first found the sound and style that I had liked in the previous album. However, I must admit that I wasn't more excited than that. I couldn't detect any flashes, any catchiness, any remarkable element that my ear could have stuck to.

And yet... You got me, again. After several listenings, I ended up being completely into it.
Again, the tempo is moderate overall. Which does not mean quiet or peaceful, because we feel underlying anxieties, a latent fever. And even when you compose a ballad... you still find a way to call it "Dying is Ecstasy".
Moderate, but sprinkled with punchy tracks ("Divine", "Two Faced Woman", "Night Fields"). These are the ones that made me want to listen to the album again and, by ricochet, to approach and appreciate the others as well.
Like the comfortable "Innermost Door", on words by Leonard Cohen. You also included 3 other "half-covers", by picking texts from Anglo-Saxon poetry, with a preference for Emilys (Dickinson, Brontë).

Another Leonard, Titus, signs the artwork one more time, on a picture from signer Arman Méliès, that furiously reminds me of Faith by the Cure. Less blurry it's true, but still in the grey. And that goes for your music as well, of course.
Speaking of Leonard Titus, you’ve certainly noticed he’s released an EP (Balboa Island), as Blacknight***. Have you listened to it? It seems there is kind of a spell saying everyone close to Animal Triste band end up recording a good disk!

Would I insult you, dear Guillaume, by affirming that you are not an exceptional singer? No, but one has to admit that you intelligently were able to find a niche, to find how to place your voice, in an amazing balance with the instruments. More in the bass than in the treble. More restrained than roaring. The roars are taken care of by Fabien Senay's maddening and energized electric guitar.

It is time to finish this letter. I hope to have the opportunity to see you in concert. Until then, I wish you a lot of happiness with City of Exiles, new songs and an attentive and growing audience, of which I will probably continue to be a part.

Yours,
Hervé