In 2007, Brooklyn’s Au Revoir Simone – comprised of three
keyboard-curious ladies called Heather D’Angelo, Erika Forster and
Annie Hart – gave us one of the most charming synth-pop albums of the
year in the form of The Bird of Music. An album populated by
thoroughbred horses, comets and stars, compasses and rulers, the lonely
dark of winter and the unyielding landscape of Iceland, The Bird of
Music set listeners squarely into Au Revoir Simone’s world, and bloomed
with lots of critical acclaim upon its release. The girls then took
off on their first proper American tours, opening for the likes of
Peter Bjorn and John and co-headlining with Oh No, Oh My, while also
gracing the stage in the UK and Europe, where they were asked to open
for Air. They were crowned as darlings of the fashion world for their
inimitable style, and spent their summer days playing shows in Japan
and festivals all over the world.
Produced by Thom Monahan
(Vetiver, Little Joy), and recorded in various studios between
Brooklyn,NY, and Los Angeles, CA, the result is their third album,
entitled Still Night, Still Light, released on their own label, Our
Secret Record Company. Although featuring songs written by all three
ladies, the album has a tremendous thematic cohesion, as if composed by
a singular voice. The collection of twelve songs sees our three
keyboard-wielding heroines creating something that could only be called
“elemental”. Gone are the bells and whistles of The Bird of Music, and
in their place is a stark closeness, as if hearing a secret from
someone you love for the first time. It’s a record that details
reflection, seeking, questioning and losing one’s place on the page
while looking for the right way home. It has some of the band’s most
quiet moments (see the glacial grace of “The Last One”) while also
containing some of their most raucous (see the dizzying exuberance of
“Anywhere You Looked”). Indeed, Still Night, Still Light is the band
at their most exposed, relying mainly on their keyboards, drum machine,
and effortless voices to create a folk record without folk instruments,
humming with resilience and wonder.
“Shadows,” has a frenetic Rhodes part and lyrics about escape. B side is exclusive to the 7” release
TRACKLISTING: (A) Shadows (B) Grateful
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