LE SECRET

This EP offers neat impressions from Neige's eclectic concept of merging brutal metal elements with dreamy romantic art pop sounds. As I am quite open to both styles, I most honestly greeted the pleasant outcome of this personal approach. The first track starts with natural soundscapes similar to Pink Floyd's "More" album, wandering from calm ethereal chord progressions by vowing hypnotic webs to dusty corners of distant childhood memories. Melodic beautifulness redeems the charming promises of the record cover, and unites with trashy distortion effects deepening the surge of musical drive, and the long composition sleepwalks trough the rustic galleries of both past days and imagination. Soft and clean vocals contrasts the harder leanings of the music, and the overall compositional balances appear well adjusted. The sound quality didn't appear very good to my ears, maybe being part of black metal philosophies, which I have understood as a part of Alcest's musical legacy. The second song elevates towards more celestial movie soundtrack feelings, resembling some corners of peaceful sleep, from which a yet more rawer heavy sequence wakens up, and approaches more heavier metal territories with screaming and dirty tones. I like this music quite much, but I think the following long players are yet more better. Along with improved sound quality, the arrangements and solidity in style fusions get yet more matured in them. If listener appreciates the heavier side more, it is found from this record with stronger emphasis than on the following albums.