Released last November, I got to jump back into SOLID, an intriguing EP by the French band SOLID CHAMPAGNE. Review.
SOLID – SOLID CHAMPAGNE
Mystical and mysterious, the EP kicks off with Tandava, Pt. 1 and it’s actually quite chilling. A shaky heavy breathing and deformed echoes sculpt the thrilling atmosphere that then bleeds into Tandava, Pt. 2. That is where we get to discover the band’s voice, clear when it should or wants to be, some great bass lines and torn riffs. Between alternative rock, punk and trip-hop, SOLID CHAMPAGNE doesn’t hesitate and dares to experiment with these genres’ textures to bring uniqueness to their EP SOLID.
And speaking of textures, between strong bass lines and brass section, the vocals are both powerful or soft, like on shell.shock, for a ravishing result. In a classic punk style, Unfinished Business has become my favourite for its bite, its catchy melody, and for its slower, patient, contemplative instants. It’s a great blend! Up next is Wildfire, a song where I’d have liked the vocals to get louder, and even more textures, to highlight the impact of its great chaotic energy.
To close SOLID, SOLID CHAMPAGNE gets back to the dark universe they opened up with, a tad less anxious than before. The result is Song of the Sea, and it’s incredibly hypnotic. For this debut EP, what the band has proposed is rather satisfying and promising. There’s a lot of energy, but mostly fascinating and consistent atmospheres. With SOLID, SOLID CHAMPAGNE puts down the first creative stones of their diverse, vaporous and grazed universe.
