Faux Départ Vie Ordinaire LP
Kinda gothy, at times this has an almost lo-fi feel to it, as well as being punchy and rocking. Like a spooky-sounding MARKED MEN almost, with less bounce and from France. I dig it.
MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL
Kinda gothy, at times this has an almost lo-fi feel to it, as well as being punchy and rocking. Like a spooky-sounding MARKED MEN almost, with less bounce and from France. I dig it.
FAUX DÉPART first hit my radar with their killer 2021 album Vie Ordinaire. With this latest EP, their style has evolved in a way that moves their core resonance away from RAMONES-inspired three-chord punk and towards punky power pop like that of the POINTED STICKS. That may be too reductive because FAUX DÉPART is not reliant on formula, and has a distinctive knack for crafting deceptively sophisticated tunes. Artful and catchy, the Lyon trio brings four memorable cuts to the table that just get sweeter with each listen. Rolling back the overdrive gives the guitar a sharper edge that begs for a DOGS comparison. This is a perfect companion piece to the ALVILDA album that came out recently, which is to say that it’s a great moment for anyone with a hankering for infectious French power pop.
Straight from Triana and Nice (Spain/France), TENTÁCULO is a punk band that treads a fine line between mid-tempo melodic punk and hard rock, or NWOBHM and post-punk, with the chops and attitude of those great working class heavy metal Spanish bands from the ’80s. Whatever, we don’t need to pinpoint TENTÁCULO down anywhere: these eight songs give no-frills rock’n’roll with existential dread-themed lyrics and hook after hook after hook. “Extrañas Luces” shines with an old-school hard rock riff in contrast with the bleak pessimism in the lyrics and the energetic singalong of the chorus. Have to highlight the guitar work on this record: simple at times, but extremely melodic in a HÜSKER DÜ kind of way. The three last songs on the B-side are some serious bangers: you can imagine yourself singing with your pals in a sweat-drenched embrace at a dark small club or spitting this street poetry into a hot and humid night after a really bad day at work. Beautiful cover and design work.
From Seville, Spain, TENTÁCULO releases their second LP and their first release in five years. Fairly straightforward melodic punk sound, with a little post-punk guitar riffing, ever-present throughout the songs. A really great mix—I can hear everyone clearly and evenly. While not the most exciting praise, I find it worth noting, as it’s often not the case. Listening brings to mind the kind of passion and aggression similar to Portland, OR’s ABOLITIONIST, though these lyrics aren’t presented, so I can’t say what they’re actually conveying. Anyway, they play on a heavy sound mixed with the melodic, hardcore-style “aaaah” backing vocals, mimicking guitar riffs, in the choruses that often bring a melancholic energy. I really appreciate the craft on display here; everything is tight, precise, and very honed-in. They formed in 2012, so it’s no wonder they’re completely bonded by their sound.
