FRENCH FOR CARTRIDGE: ‘Liquorice’
Hitting on a unique and instantly identifiable sound must be pretty difficult these days, but FRENCH FOR CARTRIDGE (Catherine Kontz and Henri Vaxby) have certainly managed it with this, their debut album. Originally from Luxembourg and Scandinavia respectively, the duo met whilst studying at Goldsmiths in New Cross, London and have garnered rave reviews for both their earlier, 2006 album ‘Cases’ and also projects and work in their own names.
‘Liquorice,’ is a collection of ten quirky and light songs spanning thirty-three minutes. Opening track is the former single release ‘Ooooh!’ – a song that gently, but forcibly throws both light and dark at the listener. One moment it’s all comforting and jolly with Catherine’s dulcet tones caressing and reassuring, and then come the threatening and rather menacing contrast of the link to the chorus, which in itself, with its simple ‘Pink, Yellow, Red and Green’ lyrics is slightly manic.
‘Loosening The Structures’ is like a warm, summery breeze with Henri taking on the lead vocal and Catherine providing a softly, almost whispered backing. But as with most of the album, it’s not just as straightforward as that and there is some lovely, banging, and discordant piano thrown in for good measure.
‘Twice As Nice’ has a gloriously ominous opening and again seems play light against dark with the soft vocal delivery vying with the more threatening instrumental interventions. ‘A Hundred And One,’ is undeniably a quite beautiful and moody song, but maybe lacking the spark and surprise element to be found on the rest of the album.
‘TV Dinner’ is probably my favourite. It’s quite brilliant in the manner of which it incorporates so many different styles, tempos and riffs within one song. There are lots of little ‘surprises’ encountered throughout its four and a half minutes and the mental, discordant piano playing over the top of the feverishly thumped drums is quite exquisite – in a noisy, brash sort of way.
‘Sitting And Reading’ sounds like some clockwork toy soldiers and cute little china dolls, clad in frilly, lace dresses but with psychopathic eyes have come alive in the dead of night and are having a ball at the toy funfair!
‘Picture Negative’ was the B-side to the earlier single release of ‘Ooooh!’ and relaxes the listener after the manic style of the previous track. It has a sort of film-score feel about it, with lovely little harmonies. The following ‘Two Feet In The Water,’ however, is the only disappointment for me on the album. Many would say it’s ‘beautiful’ and ‘atmospheric’ but of course I don’t ‘do’ that kind of music, and so would term it more of a ‘dirge’ and boring.’ Still – you can’t have it all, can you?
‘Little People’ sounds as you’d expect with that name. It’s chirpy, and bouncy with a nice little ‘zip’ of a guitar hook, while the final track, ‘Silhouettes,’ builds into something almost anthemic with it’s deep, heavy riff in the chorus and soft, melodic harmonies. If Coldplay were ‘cool’ then they may sound like this!
This album has previously been released on CD and digital formats and now celebrates its vinyl release. It’s probably one of the most ‘chic’ albums you’ll hear this year, and would be a wonderful addition to anyone’s vinyl collection.
(Released through Dinner With Daisy Records in vinyl format on 20th September 2010)
(9/10)
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