La Mécanique – L’Oubli Des Origines (Album – Cold Transmission Music)

Genre/Influences: Cold-Wave.
Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.
Background/Info: Canadian Francis Nothingwater, active as La Mécanique, released a promising debut-album “Dernier Voyage” in 2019. His second opus was composed during the ongoing pandemic and features eleven songs plus a bonus track.
Content: The work reveals a cool progression and continuation to the debut album. I get the feeling this work sounds more Electro-driven but La Mécanique holds on to the familiar Cold-Wave influences consisting of low, vibrating, bass lines, dark guitar playing and French, melancholic, vocals.
+ + + : I already liked the debut album and this new work only reveals a global progression in sound and production. The lyrical content totally fits the cold composition. All components are in perfect balance. There are several attention grabbers featured, like the harder and club-driven “Avenc” and “Sopus Astéroïdes” which have a true bewitching effect. The opening cut “Extravague” is another cool piece while “Mise A Jour” has something dark and catchy.
– – – : I noticed a few ‘flat’ songs where the music and vocals are monotonous. “Carrousel” is one of these songs.
Conclusion: La Mécanique doesn’t stand for ‘feel good’ music; however the coldness has something magic!
Best songs: “Avenc”, “Sopus Astéroïdes”, “Extravague”, “Mise A Jour”, “Au Sud De Victoria”.
Rate: 8.
Artist: www.facebook.com/lamecanique
Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic
About La Mécanique
La Mécanique is the project of Canadian musician Francis Nothingwater, who set it up in 2016. He is based in Quebec and sings in French. Until 2017 he worked only with other singers and then began using his own voice.
After appearing on samplers and releasing a few EPs, Nothingwater signed with the German label Cold Transmission Music for the debut album “Dernier Voyage” in 2019. He discussed that record with Side-Line in “‘Click Interview’ with La Mécanique: ‘DIY Is A Good Way To Produce And Share Our Passion’”. “L’Oubli Des Origines”, reviewed here, followed on 14 February 2022 and holds thirteen tracks.
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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.
