Ensemble - Excerpts (CD)

This is the second album from French...um Ensemble....Ensemble. Immediately on hearing the first track I'm thinking Broadcast, which in turn leaves me thinking of The United States of America and White Noise then asking Phil about something or other and now I'm back to the job in hand which is trying to explain this to you. Its very French (though Montreal in fact), it has a chamber pop feel to it, very 60's in places with understated strings, big booming kettle drums and nice twisty melodies that could recall Blonde Redhead (when good), neo classical wonder kid Yann Tiersen, and of course Stereolab. Vocals are split between male and female which works nicely and though it sails through a few arty cul de sacs, its bookish nature, excellent arrangements and well thought out melodies mean that after a few listens this could really be something special.