Dralms - Shook

Coldness, yes, so what?
Mid tempos, synth, samples and other kludges give straightaway a feeling of cold. But coldness can be pleasant. For example, the one of my fridge. Especially when it’s full of good things. And that’s the case of this album.

It’s of course the melodious single "Shook" that led to this strangely named band. I didn’t like it from the first listening, but I immediately understood I would, cause there was enough material and ingredients for me.

Well-rounded, "Domino House": the vocal tips glancing at Pink Floyd’s "Great Gig in the Sky", a Doors-ish organ break and the minced-repeated sentence as Radiohead (“Ma/chines for / living Ma/chines for / living Ma/chines for / living...”) Christopher Smith’s clear voice is by the way reminiscent of Thom Yorke’s, but wealth and consistency of the Canadian structure soon put the Oxford flagship quintet’s dull recent productions to the bottom.

Noteworthy also, these "Objects of Affection" to which the good bass and the Supertramp-like sax impart an endearing  pop side. Or the bubbly descending gimmick in "Pillars and Pyre" chorus, following the "weak ones" and the "strong".
Remarkable as well, the ooh’s in "Usage" don’t make think of Michael Jackson, but give energy to this good piece. A way in that is worth going back to.

Except the sound hotchpotch of "Divisions of Labour" ending (is that the famously debated "work sharing"?), or "Crushed Pleats" ending, the whole is rather little filled, almost minimalist at times. I saw a few jazzy moments sometimes.

As concerns the little game of resemblances, might be invited Air (but here less electro) or Venus (but here less folk). No, in reality, I found its European twin album: Junip’s released in 2013. You can find there the same sober creativity, the same melancholic and… cold atmospheres. Coldness, yes, so what?