Best of 2011 (eps) #5 AUTRE NE VEUT - The Body (Hippos In Tanks)

Autre Ne Veut's "The Body" follows the same template of experimental R&B-influenced pop that characterized 2010's debut full-length, but it all sounds stadium-sized. It's bigger, louder and grander than before and dizzyingly great. In a mere thirteen minutes, "The Body" runs a gamut of emotional highs and lows, while continuing to push the envelop of experimental-pop. When it is all over, you are going to want more, of course, but there is more meat here to satiate you than most artists' full-length efforts. Full review here.

"Your Clothes"

AUTRE NE VEUT - The Body (Hippos In Tanks)

Autre Ne Veut came out of nowhere last year with a debut record that was so surprisingly great that it managed to scale its way into my top 10 list for 2011, despite a lack of any real hype or coverage. The first time I listened to that record, it caught me off guard to such a degree that I nearly wrecked my car as a result of being startled with joy. While describing it I wrote: "It's a quasi brand of chillwave that incorporates heavy doses of R&B as well as off kilter electronica into heartfelt pop songs. As a result Autre Ne Veut have crafted an original sound that is as challenging as it is comforting. It's soul soothing, yet jarring at the same time. The familiarity locked within the complexity of the music is what makes this immediately lovable, while at the same time rewarding repeated in-depth immersions into this record. It also sounds like it might have been made by Unicorns. Yes, it is that magical." I am almost positive now that this is the music of Unicorns, especially since a year later the sentient being responsible for Autre Ne Veut has yet to unveil his true identity, meaning, of course, he must be a Unicorn. What this magical Unicorn has done, though, is produce yet another superb collection of songs with "The Body."

Only an EP, "The Body" nevertheless sounds more massive than ANV's debut. The same template of experimental R&B-influenced pop runs throughout this record, but it all sounds stadium-sized. It's bigger, louder and grander than before and dizzyingly great. Opener "Sweetheart" should be bouncing off the walls of a sold-out auditorium while being sung by an 80s R&B legend to a sea of lit Bic lighters. "Not the One" follows and sounds like a futuristic chorus teetering at the brink of sanity. Guest vocalist She Wolf repeats the same refrain over and over while ANV provides a backdrop of chilly synths and beats that wouldn't be out of place on the "Blade Runner" soundtrack. The darker sound of "Not the One" informs the beginning of "Just Return," one of the record's best tracks. The number vacillates between moments of atrophy and inertia, and inspired struggle against such decay. Punctuated by the lyrics "now I wanna be light, now I wanna be strong," the piece acts as a rallying cry just before "Your Clothes" closes out things on a pounding up note. When it is all over, you are going to want more. At the same time, there is a lot of meat here to chew on while awaiting ANV's sophomore LP.

Recently I've been thinking of 2011 as the year of the EP, with superb smaller releases from Barn Own, Locrian, Big Business and How To Dress Well all outshining most artists' full-length efforts. Add Autre Ne Veut to that list, because "The Body" proves that sometimes thirteen minutes of spectacular music is more compelling than forty-five minutes of just decent music.

"Just Return"

BEST OF 2010 (albums) #9 AUTRE NE VEUT - S/T (Olde English Spelling Bee)

This album came out of nowhere and floored me within the first minute of listening. If it wasn't for Luna guru Dan, I would have likely passed this up entirely and remained all the more ignorant and impoverished as a result. This didn't have a bunch of buzz behind it in an effort by tastemakers to force it down listeners' throats despite merit, which was kind of nice because the direct immediate love I had for this record was one of the purest musical experiences I had this year, something not to take lightly in this day and age of internet hype that shapes far too much of the conversation and our reaction to music. It was the closest thing I had this year to an old school 'holy shit this is good! what the fuck is it?' discovery. So what the fuck is it? It's a a quasi brand of chillwave that incorporates heavy doses of R&B as well as off kilter electronica into heartfelt pop songs. As a result Autre Ne Veut have crafted an original sound that is as challenging as it is comforting. It's soul soothing, yet jarring at the same time. The familiarity locked within the complexity of the music is what makes this immediately lovable, while at the same time rewarding repeated in-depth immersions into this record. It also sounds like it might have been made by Unicorns. Yes, it is that magical. Full review here.

AUTRE NE VEUT "SOLDIER" from OLDE ENGLISH SPELLING BEE on Vimeo.

AUTRE NE VEUT - S/T (Olde English Spelling Bee)

More often than not when you put on a new record there is a courting period wherein you digest new sounds gradually and assimilate grouping structures within the music, while attaching emotional responses to what you are hearing, which can be changed based on time and context. Even albums that may end up being favorites, are not immediately loved. Most records, like any relationship, take time to get to know before you make that commitment to stick with it beyond a fleeting lustful fling. But some records...well some records jar you out of complacency like a bolt of lightening and make you feel something immediate and strong; whether it be aggression, excitement, sorrow or joy. Some records you have a connection with that surpasses the normal progression of incorporating music into your being. Autre Ne Veut's self-titled debut is one of those records. It's jarring, disorienting, familiar and comforting all at once; and insanely good.

Let me attempt to convey what went through my head when I hit play and album opener "Tell Me" came rolling out of my speakers: 'This isn't too bad, it isn't like I thought it would be. Kinda sounds like a lo-fi TV on the Radio. Like that guy's voice, real soulful. Check out this freaky funhouse rhythm. Hmm, it's kind of like a chillwave version of TV on the Radio. Oh yeah here we go, that's the sweet spot! Sexy as hell multi-tracked chorus is pulling all the right strings. This is the fucking bomb. Hot damn!!! Oh keep it coming, keep it coming, please don't stop...' No, I didn't have to change my pants afterwards, but I did feel like I had finally found the one album this year that would come out of nowhere and kill. And if you don't want to read any more, I'll make it quick and let you know that yes, that feeling became reality once I came to the end Autre Ne Veut's debut. This is it. This is the album we've been waiting for to come and sweep us off our feet with precious little hype or buzz to precede it.

So, if you are still reading this and haven't already dropped everything to pick up a copy, let me try and convince you a little bit more. The mysterious act (don't know if they are a band, a man, or a unicorn) produce a quasi brand of chillwave that incorporates heavy doses of R&B as well as off kilter electronica into their mix of heartfelt songs. As a result they/he/it have crafted an original sound that is as challenging as it is comforting. It's soul soothing, yet jarring at the same time. The familiarity locked within the complexity of the music is what makes this immediately lovable, while at the same time rewarding repeated in-depth immersions into the album. Take a listen to "Emotional" and you will latch quickly onto the subtly tweeked R&B vocals, but be disoriented by the shuffled beat and keyboards that sound a bit like a drunk falling down the stairs. It is that mixture of the experimental with the straight forward that makes this an album for everyone. Dance kids can groove on it, IDM snobs will find much to sift through, indie rockers will love the emotionality, hell, I bet even your grandma could rock this, even though she might wonder if she doubled dosed on her pain meds.

I don't really know what more to say about this, other than a single moment more of life without it is not worth living. I'm sure I could stick around and come up with more comparisons and analogies, but that would waste your time in getting off the computer and picking up a copy of this incredible record, which is destined for year end lists for sure. I will end with one more addition to my description of Autre Ne Veut's debut and that is beauty. This is an incredibly beautiful record. In the manner that Pavement's Slanted and Enchanted carried with it so much beauty in between the noise, Autre Ne Veut's debut carries with it so much beauty in between it's topsy turvy electronic compositions, making the human heart at the center of all the machines the real star here.

AUTRE NV "SOLDIER" from OLDE ENGLISH SPELLING BEE on Vimeo.

AUTRE NV "WAKE UP" from OLDE ENGLISH SPELLING BEE on Vimeo.