Agoo Rec.
Au : Verbs (US,2008)****
A really interesting maturation and transformation process reshaped the band Luc into Au.
The first two tracks show a first edged aspect. Here they have gone equally more crazy and more organised, just like a commune in essence can be. The tone is that of such a communal almost spiritual weirdness, with over the top overtone harmonies and a joining in pairs of singing together, with percussion, handclaps, with sections of an organised musical carnival, showing progressive moves with sequenced keyboards and groovy organ and small brass keyboard arrangements, alternated by these organised sections of vocalised enthusiasm.
More arranged tracks are always alternated by calmed down tracks led by moody electric guitar and vocals with fewer harmonies. The third track for instance starts most serious with musical saw-alike and glass-alike airy tones with a background vocal drone, a harmonious tuning in into a song with moody slow electric guitar, evolving to a rhythmical breaking out with pop-rock power, fading out as fast as it appeared.
The track thereafter returns to the first mood in a different shape and variation, starting with overloads of minimal piano, an introduction for the next entertaining, enthusiastic poppy handclap song, reminding me of bands like Animal Collective as well as those tralala chamberfolk bands (Mount Zion,..) a bit. The clever piano arrangements in it are almost classically inspired.
A new break with new arrangements sounds like being from a circus-roundabout. This changes back quickly to the piano, with communal harmony vocals and with the handclap mode.
“All myself” followed hereafter is very classical, well arranged chamber-like theatre including piano and brass with a song leading the story. The arrangements swing with a vibrating minimalist highpoint of energy, before rocking its mood further.
The second calmer and moodier track with electric guitar follows hereafter, called “Two Seasons” with moody harmonious vocal leads and flute giving a slightly folkier touch, with a bit of musical saw, a slow song with front male vocals and background female vocals formed from almost droning, humming background harmonies. This seriousness and slow moodiness can be found in the last three tracks as well. The first two are led by accordion mostly, with drums and vocals, and the second track with a trumpet solo appearing like a vocalist. The last track is the third and last song with slow electric guitar, including some slide guitar sounds too and dual vocal arrangements.
Compared to the previous project, with longer tracks and more evolutions into each track this is surely an approach that should appeal with a more popular recognisable attraction. Well done.
