poppedmusic

Modern Myths

Released August 27th 2012

Having not that long ago been introduced to Les Jupes I didn’t quite have enough time to formulate any ideas about how I thought their album might sound. I heard maybe two songs at most and quite enjoyed them so I thought why not deliver an album review of it seeing as someone had been so kind as to send it my way in the first place.

The first thing that stirkes me about this album isn’t actually anything to do with the music but more the track listing. For one it’s on the inside of the album sleeve and not the outside… for some peculiar reason I quite like this, it has no bearing on anything really, but I find it aesthetically pleasing none the less. More importantly though I note that there are several songs called Myth #7 (Honour). I guess my question is surely with an album title of Modern Myths, all tracks should (in theory) be subject to the concept of myth even if not in title, and secondly, what happened to numbers 1-2 and 4-6? Are there missing Myths and if so when will we get them? This was quite a lot for me to take on board before I even hit play I can tell you this much.

Musically this album is quite luxurious and rich in textures and timbres and certainly doesn’t kneel at the feet of current modern day popular indie pop. Last Dance has hints of some of these modern day indie pop elements, the keyboard is upbeat and guitars almost, but not quite, jangle. Yet there’s something stopping it being quite there; an undercurrent of mismatched unnerving pitch and a haunting that reverberates and the vocals will never lend themselves to be Two Door Cinema Club. I like this though, it’s a richer tapestry though I think I’d have to be in the mood for it where as TDCC is any time any place escapism.

Myth #7 (Honour) happens to be the track that I most identify with for some reason. Perhaps it’s because it’s a little less on the clever side, perhaps it’s because it has the lyrics “i’m on fire” (don’t ask, I think I have a thing for flames, though only theoretically). I also adore the female vocal harmony that brings a total different feel to the album. One Solemn Oath is also totally mention worthy because not just because of the sound but perhaps because it is the track that I feel holds the most hope and the album very much needs this track to help it keep it afloat. I also completely adore the final track “Awake, My Ghost”, it’s a complete contrast to Myth #7 musically. It’s a slow burner, a come down from the rest of the album, a palate cleanser if you will, allowing you to start the album all over again as if you hadn’t just heard it.

The overall feeling of Modern Myths is something a little on the sombre side with moments of almost frenzied and unexpected reaching for hope. At first listen I wondered if Les Jupes could be the new Editors or White Lies but they are darker still. Perhaps more in the vein of the almighty Arcade Fire. I don’t mean for this to sound as pompous as it’s going to but the album has an intellectual feel to it; it requires thinking, you need to listen to the lyrics, the sounds and take in the landscapes that are all carefully crafted to give quite a strong imagery.  To be clear though this is not an album that is taxing to listen to. Nor is it an album that is preaching or trying to be overly clever, there is hopeful uplifting and beautiful sounds and my music collection certainly feels all the richer for it.

Watch the video for One Solemn Oath here: