Since beginning her solo career in 2012, Un Autre Voyage (Another Journey) is Marie Davidson's third album, and even at this relatively young stage in her career shows marked development. Presented as a largely spoken word work (in French) of her personal experiences, there is a greater variety of emotions than the more depressive sounds of her earlier works, which comes through even absent the lyrics.
Davidson's extensive use of drum machines and vintage synthesizers surely earns a place in some sub-sub -wave genre that may or may not have been invented as of yet, but this is one of those cases where that approach comes together quite well.With its simple, throbbing rhythm and French spoken word vocals, "Boulevard Taschereau" made me feel a bit of commonality with Suicide's Why Be Blue or A Way of Life, with its similar sense of repetition mixed with a similar level of instrumental technology.
"Excès de Vitesse" sits more in a standard "new wave" template, with its metallic echo laden drum programming and basic, but effective synth sequences defining most of the song.At times it does sound a bit TOO rooted in its 1980s nostalgia, but the catchy bass pattern makes it memorable.The high point for me is "Balade aux USA," in which all of these elements come together brilliantly.Solid drum machine beats, twinkling synth leads, guitar (courtesy of Davidson's partner and bandmate in Essaie Pas, Pierre Guerineau), and singing, rather than spoken word, results in a strong, memorable bit of off kilter pop.
The other half of this album’s six songs has Davidson in a less pop and more introspective mood.There is a distinct heaviness around "Kidnap You in the Desert," led by a pulsing murky opening and fragments of voice rather than traditional vocals."Insomnie" also drops the drums and results in a lighter overall mood and effective, but simple melody compared to some of the thicker, more overbearing elements of the record.
Both the pop and abstract sensibilities dovetail together in the concluding "Perséphone."Starting from a foreboding introduction and heavy kick drum, Davidson adds in a simple but perfect bass synth pattern.Both Guerineau and Davidson provide spoken word vocals, and the addition of an organ passage pushes it into very melodramatic territory.
While at times Un Autre Voyage sounds a bit too attached to its 1980s trappings, it more often than not works extremely well with that distinct sound.I personally prefer sung to spoken word vocals, so the moments where they appeared here were the ones I felt most engaging.Even with the spoken word pieces, however, the music Davidson created was more than enough to make them still click well with me.
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