Album
Review:
Dead Horse One - Season of Mist
(Requiem Pour Un Twister Records)
By
Elizabeth Klisiewicz
Dead Horse One is the wonderful French band led by
singer/guitarist Olivier Debard. Hailing from the southern French town of
Valence, they formed in 2012 and released the well-received EP Heavenly Choir of Jet Engines. In 2014, they released the marvelous Without Love We Perish,
produced by Mark Gardener of Ride. The band cites influences ranging from The
Telescopes to John Barry soundtracks, and it’s somewhat evident in the grooves
of this new release. The band has always favored the poppier end of the psych
gaze spectrum, and seem less involved with regurgitating the same old tired MBV
effects. With a high focus on swooning psychedelia and heavenly layers of
sound, Dead Horse One have another winner on their hands.
The album was mixed
and produced by John Loring from Fleeting Joys, and also features musical
contributions from John and Rorika Loring (also from Fleeting Joys). John also
co-wrote two songs (“Disconnected” and “Today”). I have listened to this album
repeatedly over the past week or so and continue finding new treasures in the
mix, so I very much appreciate the care that was put into this recording.
Opening track “Insight” is truly stunning, and I
really dig the somewhat warped sounding keyboard that starts it off. It morphs
quickly into a full blown psych stomp with gauzy textures, the perfect
synthesis between shoegaze and psychedelia. And before I expound further, let
me state for the record that I have always considered shoegaze to be a
sub-genre of psych, so the two fit together neatly. The vocals are wonderful
here too, as are the guitars soaring into the stratosphere. Wonderful opening
track!
“Season of Mist” is equally gorgeous, and it
reminds me the most of A Storm in Heaven era Verve. Especially with the curls
of feedback surrounding the entire mix. If ever a song deserved to be a hit,
it’s this one. Just amazing! “Mesmerise Me” is a graceful and sublimely
trippy slice of decadent psych, and is truly swoonworthy. You will find
yourself floating on golden clouds, raised up by the grandeur of this
music. The guitar work by Olivier Debard is fantastic here, but that is
the case throughout the record.
“Disconnected” starts off with warm burbling synth
and cooing male/female vocals. It is tranquil and easy to lose yourself in, and
while it stretches out to five minutes and has lighter textures, it features
some stellar guitar. “Today” shifts gears, slowing down and mixing some
interesting vocal layers in with a haunting synth line. It reminds me of Ride’s
quieter moments, and I like the way the song dials it back to basic instruments
before ramping up the energy. “Mantis” is a slight bow to Swervedriver, mostly
in the pile-driving guitar and bass, the faster pace, and the frenetic energy
swirling about. Then, in mid-song, the band veers off on another track and it’s
like a second song was tacked on.
“Sharon” is densely packed with walls of towering
feedback that part slightly to let in light swirls of organ and delicate
vocals. Very pretty! “It’s Been Awhile” is another nod to Adam Franklin and
company, right down to the ethereal vocals wafting through the heavy buzz of
guitars. Great! “Sons of God” has symphonic swoops that remind me of that Verve
hit that shall not be named, only it’s way better than that. I especially dig
the vocals, and the way the wonderfully rendered guitar curls around and between.
“Forget About Jesus” is not the most obvious song to end the album, but it
encompasses everything I like about this group. The synth lines are skewed and
cool, and the guitars crunch sweetly in the right spots. In short, this is a
great record from this talented French group, and is a release well worth
picking up for shoegaze and psych fans of every stripe.
