Elephant - Assembly EP

Crikey, what is it with all these M/F electronic pop duos? This pair are incredibly beautiful and I bet they think they're clever calling themselves Elephant but there was an indie band in the late '90s with the same moniker. Apparently this lass is French like Olivia from The Do (who just blew me away). But she's also been living in Pontefract up north near here for a period of her life before decamping for that riot-torn borough beloved of Lord Boris Johnson so I'm listening out for a Yorkshire twang in her voice. Yet no, this is twinkly, sophisticated glacial pop with nary a hint of “Ee by gum” - 'Assembly' is really lovely if a mite forgettable, 'Shipwrecked' is a bit of a plod with hints of later period Cocteaus...I don't like the stuttering glitchy affect applied to her vocals at the end, it sounds pretentious and a bit shit. 'Hopeless' certainly doesn't live up to its name but once again mines some fairly obvious Fraser-isms, bolting them onto another bubbling amble through shimmering arms-aloft synths, chugging electronic bass and ethereal moods. If this reads like I'm not enjoying it then you're wrong, I think this is the second strongest tune on the EP and I approve whole-heartedly as this song in particular makes me feel both relaxed and chipper. 'At Twilight' is another slowie, pulsing ethereal vibes again with some foggy tendrils of guitar adding to the white-lace melancholy of it all. On a bad day I'd give this a three but I like the mood it's left me in so, Elephant, it really is your lucky day. I won't send the mice round to give you grief on this occasion...