WATCHING WORLDS COLLIDE

This band is new to me, even though they've released previous albums. As someone who's video-reacted to over 1,300 songs on YouTube, I've noticed that hearing a band for the first time naturally leads to comparisons with familiar sounds. So who comes to mind here? Talk Talk, Tears for Fears, David Sylvian, Steven Wilson (especially in the vocals), the Alan Parsons Project... and for some reason, the X-Files TV series!

Right away, I was drawn to Arnaud Nicolau's drumming. With all the modern advances in in-the-box drum production (which I have nothing against), it's refreshing and energizing to hear the tasteful flourishes of a real drummer on a properly mic'd kit. He's joined by Marc Anguill on bass, laying down great grooves throughout much of the album, not with a plectrum, but with what sounds like strong, two-finger plucking that firmly grounds the band.

The band is firmly rooted in sophisticated prog pop rock. Aurélien Goude's vocals are laid-back yet constantly reaching ?not in a strained way, but with a searching, introspective quality, as if he's a singer in pursuit of answers. Mathilde Collet adds beautifully complementary vocals on several tracks, helping to shape the band's distinct and nuanced sound.

Compositionally, the album is broad and expansive, with little repetition and a willingness to wander down long, winding corridors of sound. While it does rock out at times for emphasis, the overall vibe is laid-back in a cool, deliberate way. That's where I draw the connection between prog and noir: the music often feels wrapped in a smoky mystery, like it's unfolding in shadows.

There's some truly mature and memorable songwriting on display here, supported by superb arrangements and rich jazz-influenced chord progressions. The band isn't bound by predictable verse-chorus structures; instead, the songs unfold in expansive, often unexpected ways. Much of the music is piano-centric, with tasteful and layered use of synths and textures that complement the core beautifully. Trevor Horn would absolutely love this band?in fact, he'd be the perfect producer for them.

The album carries an introspective tone -relaxed, unhurried, and never trying too hard to impress. No one's breaking a sweat here, and that restraint adds to its charm. There's some lovely violin work on track 3, and a horn section makes welcome appearances throughout several songs. The atmospheric touches are especially notable -some tracks would fit seamlessly as background in a modern crime noir TV series.

A solid 4 out of 5 stars. Esthesis exude a smoky ambience I'd describe as prog noir?a sound steeped in jazz influences that creates a rich, atmospheric sense of mystery. While the tone leans toward the darker side, there's enough uplift to keep it moving forward with some optimism.

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