Shelter… No cover versions?
Review: Alcest – Shelter
Published on January 27th, 2014 | Jonny Abrams
French duo Alcest recorded their fourth album Shelter at Sigur Rós’s Sundlaugin studio, an environment that bleeds through quite palpably into these dreamy, shoegazey soundscapes.
It’s quite the departure for a band previously given to metal, closer in sound to The Besnard Lakes than, say, Opeth – heck, one track, the alluringly folky “Away”, even features Neil Halstead of Slowdive.
Heavily reverbed, fast-picked guitars soar overhead, a neat trick in itself yet one that only serves to make them sound more like other bands.
Shoegaziest of all is the title track, which is positively Ride-y, with an eminently traceable touch of Sigur Rós about it too.
It’s quality stuff, mind – there’s an undeniable majesty to “L’eveil des Muses”, while ten-minute curtain-closer “Délivrance” is a vast waterfall of elation. That’s right, folks: a vast waterfall of elation.
If that sounds like your verre de thé then by all means go forth and get drenched in it…just don’t be expecting much in the way of les nouveaux territoires.
Shelter is out now on Prophecy Productions.
BUY: Shelter on iTunes or on Amazon.
Rocksucker says: Three Quails out of Five!
About the Author
Jonny Abrams Editor of Rocksucker and the website's founder, Jonny is passionate about the music he listens to, both good and bad, as well as interviewing his favourite musicians.
