August 24, 2026

Closed Mouth – Forgotten (Digital/CD Album – Icy Cold Records)

Closed Mouth – "Forgotten" album cover
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Since 2016, French artist Yannick Rault has been prolific, releasing numerous works that push sonic boundaries. This past summer, he stroke back with a new album under his alter-ego, Closed Mouth. The album, featuring 10 tracks, transports listeners back to the grandiose 80s, evoking the depth and intensity of Dark-Wave and Post-Punk. Rault once again strikes a careful balance between guitar and electronic arrangements, with a deep, resonant bassline that underscores the album’s darker tones, complemented by sharp, striking guitar riffs. His sometimes monotonous, almost sterile vocal style and the album’s immersive atmosphere are reminiscent of The Danse Society -a fitting reference for this work. While I’ve enjoyed several of Rault’s past productions, “Closed Mouth” takes his artistry a step further. This album is an essential addition to today’s Post-Punk scene. (Rating:8).

Listen to “What’s Real?”:

About Closed Mouth

Closed Mouth is the solo project of French musician Yannick Rault. The project mixes coldwave, dark-wave and post-punk, built on guitar and electronic arrangements.

Rault has self-released a steady stream of material since 2016, starting with collections such as “Coffee And Cigarettes #3”. In 2019 the album “[ O N E ]” appeared on Cold Transmission Music, alongside self-released titles including “Strange Bees” and “[ L A S T ]”. “Conversation Piece” followed in 2020.

The album reviewed here, “Forgotten”, was released on July 5, 2024 by Icy Cold Records as a digital and CD album holding ten tracks.

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