Genre/Influences: Electro-pop, cinematographic.
Background/Info: Based in London, Hungarian duo Emese Arvai-Illes (vocals) and Krisztian Arvai (electronics) are back on track unleashing this self-released EP featuring 3 new songs. The band previously released more EP’s and 3 full length albums (mainly released on Basic Unit Productions). A new full length is in the pipeline.
Content: The title song is one of the most powerful cuts Black Nail Cabaret has ever accomplished. This is the right title song for an EP mixing great sound treatments, a cool chorus and Emese’s powerful vocals.
We next get 2 more cuts, which are quite different. First there’s an instrumental and somewhat soundtrack-inspired song and next a kind of free electro-jazzy inspired piece.
+ + + : This EP is characterized by a remarkable title song, “Bête Noire” maybe being the best song ever composed by the band. It also stands for a creative and efficient electro-pop song, which can’t be compared to other bands and that’s precisely what Black Nail Cabaret always has done. The 2 songs left add some diversity to the EP revealing a different side from the band.
– – – : I like diversity, but I have to admit I’m not entirely convinced by the so-called B-side cuts featured at “Bête Noire”.
Conclusion: This is an EP with a terrific title track and 2 more songs revealing a totally other side of the band. “Bête Noire” makes me curious how the new album will sound.
Best songs: “Bête Noire”.
Rate: (7).
Artist: www.blacknailcabaret.com / www.facebook.com/bncband
About Black Nail Cabaret
Black Nail Cabaret is a Hungarian project that describes its sound as “dark avant-garde pop” or “synth noir”. Emese Arvai-Illes (vocals) and Zsófia Tarr (keyboards) founded the band in 2008; Tarr left in 2016 and was replaced by Krisztian Arvai. After a self-released debut and two albums on Basic Unit Productions, Black Nail Cabaret released “Pseudopop” in 2019 on Dichronaut Recordings, a label the band co-founded with Ultranoire. The band went on to release the albums “Woodland Memoirs” (2023) and “Chrysanthemum” (2024).
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