Wednesday, September 19, 2012

REVIEW: Sox - Birth Etcetera

8 out of 10
Find it here.

Sox (a.k.a. Julien Sens) has been a busy guy. For the past few years, he's been slowly popping up on music-radars everywhere, especially in the French music scene. He's lent his beats to a handful of artists as well as notable remixes for acts like The Polyphonic Spree and Passion Pit. In the midst of all this (2009 to be exact), he released a self-produced EP titled 'How To Picnic'.  This got the attention of Switzerland-based, Mental Groove Records, in-which (last June), his first full length album was born.

'Birth Etcetera' is a delicate yet raw album. Delicate in reference to the seamless marriage of synth, piano, synth, acoustic guitar, and synth. And raw in reference to the pure innocence and honesty of it all. This innocence is most present on the album's introductory track appropriately titled "Birth". A playful piano melody is supported by the sound of a film reel giving the album an immediate nostalgic undertone. The piano dominates once again on the following track titled "Awake". A matching synth and a simple electronic rhythm evoke a self-awareness that often comes with childhood. And from here on, like any good story, you're hooked. Sens' influences for this album are present and accounted for. There are more than a few nods toward Sebastien Tellier, Yann Tiersen, Daft Punk, Air, Modeselektor, etc... His friends are not far behind him either, featured on the album are Chicros and Kumi Solo, a couple of fellow vocalists whom he had the pleasure of previously remixing. But Sens' roots are far from absent, although most tracks here are fairly mellow and groovy, he very much sounds like he's well within his comfort zone on the head-bobbin' track "Daikanayama". which serves as kind of a reverse pallet-cleanser. It feels like a throwback to his "Hip Hop beat producing days".      

The closing track, "Etcetera", is the most beautiful way one can possibly say "Thanks for listening" through the use of synths, a pleasing conclusion that is soon followed by a secret track that plays over the credits in your mind. This is one story you're going to want to revisit again and again until his next.

Standout Tracks: Birth, La Violence, Watching TV

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