Showcasing an alluring sophisti-pop sound, Second Mansions is the newly launched album from Le Concorde, the mission of singer-songwriter Stephen Becker. The memorable sound is propelled additional by famous Scottish producer Calum Malcolm, who has labored beforehand with a number of the mission’s largest inspirations in The Blue Nile and Prefab Sprout. The latter is a very putting aesthetical reference level right here, particularly since Becker’s vocals mission a easy, soulful charisma paying homage to Paddy McAloon — seamlessly accompanied by an array of twinkling synths, warming guitar strums, and harmoniously reflective backing vocals.
Second Mansions represents a stirring return for Le Concorde, whose earlier launch got here 15 years in the past with Home. Additionally working with Becker on the album is Roger Manning, Jr., whose knack for earworms spans from his work in legendary power-pop group Jellyfish to a stellar solo output. Manning felt proper at residence inside the artistic course of, admiring Becker’s ear along with the sophisti-pop stylistic pursuit. “Together with jazz, this sophistipop is the music that impressed me in highschool,” Manning says. “It was loaded with synthesizers and the keyboard know-how of the late Seventies and the early Eighties—bands like Tears for Fears, Peter Gabriel, Scritti Politti—very keyboard-driven, as a result of individuals had been having enjoyable with the know-how on the time.”
The highlights are plentiful all through. Opening monitor “Corpus Christi” melds shimmering guitars and illuminated synths between a dynamic vocal prowess, alternating between debonair intrigue and ascending emotion. “The Sound Alone” achieves a lusher entrancement in its extra patiently unfolding vocal magnificence and infusing of comforting bass strains and glistening synths; Jordan-era Prefab Sprout involves thoughts right here. One other standout, “Saint James” brings us again into the brisker rock territory as jangling guitars and punchy vocals enamor. From starry-eyed synths to rousing rock-forward guitars, Second Mansions represents an eclectic, persistently melodic sophisti-pop return for Le Concorde.
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