Candélabre – Candélabre (CD EP – Solange Endormie Records)
Genre/Influences: Cold-wave, shoegaze.
Background/Info: French trio Candélabre saw the light of day in 2017. All of the members were previously involved with other music bands. This self-titled and self-released EP is an opportunity to discover 5 songs from this band.
Content: One of the first elements that caught my attention is the particular and fragile-like timbre of voice of Cindy Sanchez. Her vocals create the right match with the music, which sounds like an offspring between cold-wave and shoegaze music. The guitar parts are sometimes evoking The Cocteau Twins while I also have to mention X Mal Deutschland for the cold reverie recovering the songs.
+ + + : The 80s influences will for sure appeal for numerous new-wave fans, but I think this band also has something special. I like the guitar parts, which inject this touch of magic to the production. It also creates a kind of obscure atmosphere like announcing a nearby disaster. The fusion with the sweet and fragile vocal parts accentuates the sensitive side of the work. But I also experienced the songs as pretty intimate. The last song “Carrion Season” is a beautiful apotheosis to a promising EP. Last, but not least I also have to say a word about the great artwork of this EP, which perfectly represents the melancholia running through the songs.
– – – : I just noticed one song (cf. “Fortress Of Salvation”), which couldn’t convince me. That’s not really a good reason to complain don’t you think?
Conclusion: Candélabre doesn’t innovate at any single moment, but reveals a pleasant work. It sounds like an Autumn atmosphere when the leaves are falling from the trees. I hope to hear more from this band.
Best songs: “Carrion Season”, “Last Rites”, “Lone Wolf”.
Rate: (7½).
Artist & Label: www.facebook.com/candelabre.band
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
