Review Summary: The suitable companion piece to Alcest's "Écailles de Lune".
I do not know. Maybe there is a reason for Les Discrets doing a split EP with Alcest, and then releasing their respective albums the very same day. Fursy Teysser, Les Discrets band leader, not only painted Alcest's new album cover, but also worked with Neige (Alcest's frontman) on Amesoeurs. So the comparisons come naturally, as even both albums are the same length and share a similar sound. Those who were not satisfied with Alcest's
Écailles de Lune turned their heads over
Septembre et Ses Dernières Pensées and vice versa, to point out what should have been done instead.
But Alcest dwell in their own reality, oblivion to any current trends. They have their own sound and vision, and it is pretty much self-contained. By comparison, Les Discrets are slightly more diverse, and at the same time, a little more focused and song-oriented. While Alcest is flying in the sky, heading to the horizon on a mystical voyage, Les Discretes are walking the Earth through obscure forests and desolated landscapes under the moonlight, looking for some internal answers. There is a more terrene feeling on
Septembre et Ses Dernières Pensées that is not devoid of magic and charm, because in the end this album is an exquisite listening. What if you can find the soundscapes familiar, or even similar to those of Amesoeurs, for example? The band also works with shoegaze and post-rock elements, but they do not pretend to reinvent the aesthetic Neige brought to the table; instead, they use it to better serve the band's purposes and create their own version of it. A more straightforward take if you want, but also a beautiful, elegant, intimate, mesmerizing, and above everything, a very identifiable one.
Fursy, the group mastermind, is very confident at what he is doing, and he is certainly not afraid of the comparison people will surely make between him and Neige. The reason is apparent very soon: Les Discrets are also capable of creating their own world, one in which the listener is gently taken in. The songs are very solid and have an unique color. The atmosphere is less dense and compulsive, less aerial and less wandering than the one he helped to shape on Amesoeurs's self-titled. At the core, this is basically an acoustic album turned into an electric beast by layers and layers of guitar distortion, and thanks to Fursy's vision and talent the songs are allowed to evolve into something fuller, deeper and richer than it appears on first listen. It has an epic feeling that is not ambitious; the music is all the way intimate with a strong sense of nostalgia, having this unsettling vibe that adds to the album's well-defined character. There are great rock riffs to find, which serve the album to have a more classic, old-fashioned feel; so it succeeds both at being instantly accessible and retaining replay value. The beautiful and warm songs flow with ease and the tone is such that it is never boring, despite being slow and calm. There are louder passages that are also pleasing to the ears; although it is clear the band does not care for heaviness. Taking into consideration this is a debut album, the band has done pretty well.
If you enjoyed Alcest or Amesoeurs, or if you just like sweet and seducing music, most likely you are going to love
Septembre et Ses Dernières Pensées. For all intent and purposes, beyond the genre you want to put them in, Les Discrets are simply a fine rock band, which quietly try to make their way into the scene, by doing it the best way possible: with a great album.
4/5
Les Discrets are:
Fursy Teysser - Guitars, Bass, Vocals
Winterhalter - Drums
Audrey Hadorn - Vocals and lyrics
