aaamusic | On 15, Aug 2011

Well, this is an interesting idea. Florian Lunaire has decided to release a series of tracks over a year, tying in with the seasons, hence ‘Spring/Summer’ for this batch, with ‘Spring’ recorded in London, and ‘Summer’ in LA. But the story will always take second fiddle to the songs, so how do they measure up?

 

‘Capture/Release’ is a beautiful, tender song to open on, Lunaire’s smoky yet tuneful vocals matching in rich melody with his romantic piano-playing. The production is exquisite, capturing all the nuances of this two-minute beauty to create an intimate calm between artist and listener for the other tracks to flourish in. Following on is the lush yet livelier ‘Amsterdam’, a wry humour permeating the potentially soppy proceedings, lifting them to a poetic state, with observant and eloquent lyrics that feel like a slice of a complete life, the chorus almost a rush of expression set to gently tumbling, shimmering piano, and a swinging percussion that adds vivacity to the song.‘The Persistence Of Memory’ is a much more magical track, with a tinkling piano intro and lyrics pitched somewhere between childhood and fairytale, an evocative series of images accompanied by caresses of a perfectly-matched piano. Subtle strings add further dimension to the deep sound, and Lunaire gets the most of the words with his understated yet emotionally powerful vocal delivery, never anything less than huskily melodic. Dipping into sombre minors, the song has a bittersweet undertone, but to call it sad would downplay its deep, meaningful charm, bookended by the sprightly ‘Amsterdam’ and its corresponding ‘Outro’ waltz.

‘One’ is immediately different, a much more ethereal yet more earthy sound all at once. The sound is somewhat distanced compared to the previous intimacy, a strange echo dogging the vocals, yet the more expansive instrumentation, including glockenspiel, backing vocals, and rhythmic handclaps create a thicker, heftier feel to this track that marks a definite change, although Lunaire’s naive Tom Waits vocals and Duke Special piano remain fully recognisable, as ‘Summering Here’ kicks off with a poppy hopskip, the shimmering percussion and cheeky handclaps daring the listener to resent such an – indeed – sunny track with its mature, considered lyrics and weary yet alive emotive heft giving it meaning and longevity in the minds of the listeners as their hearts are swept off by the playful piano solo.

Yes, ‘Forever Young’ is a great choice of closer to this collection: a three-minute narrative that really hits home. “It’s easier to live in the past because the past never moves on” being an example of the lyrical gems nestled in this sepia-toned pop song, dwelling upon the mysterious draw of the past and the ghosts of youth. However, there’s an undeniable joie de vivre that makes the whole affair life-affirming.

 

Florian Lunaire is by no means my cup of tea, being more of an English breakfast blend with a dash of milk than, say, my usual black coffee or strong green tea, but there’s a bittersweet charm and spades of depth both lyrically and musically that would appeal to anyone looking for a quiet, emotional yet intelligent set of pop songs that are never compromise themselves or indeed the listeners.

 

Author: Katie H-Halinski