Avec Sans are Alice Fox and Jack St James, a London-based duo originally from Manchester and Trinidad respectively – whose musical interests overlapped in urgent and compelling ways. The band first came to prominence with their Bon Iver ‘Perth’ cover.
We don’t know what they’re without… but they’re recent video was overflowing …. “Hold On” had generous cascades of electro beats, sumptuous keys and lashings of fine melody.
Alice cites influences like Sigur Ros and Jack prefers Bad Religion – he comes from a punk rock background. But together they make impressive music that shines as it unites those disparate influences and textures together.
Their new bumptious offering – the single “Shiver” has been keenly anticipated.
We had a listen:
It is said that when someone walks over ‘your future grave’ you experience a shiver. This song examines this concept.
The synth-beat is a wavefront of tiny ripples. From this pattern emerges the frost-bitten crystal clear vocal of Alice. It sparkles like sun-glitter on a frozen lake.
The words curl and twist under the barrage of ice-frost pellets and grapeshot rime. The “Oh No …what have you done?” moment is perhaps reminiscent of Annie’s ‘Chewing Gum’ (Richard X and Hannah Robinson).
The chilling finale transcends higher altitudes than you might expect – conceivably into an esoteric universe beyond our normal understanding. Certainly, it will give you the shivers!
– © Neil_Mach November 2013 –
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