In the last two years, Le SuperHomard has changed members and teamed up with someone new. And while Meadow Park Lane was a gem, and one of 2019's best records, 2021's Once, the new one with Maxwell Farrington is equally good. The shades are different this time around, but there's a similar retro charm here.
"We, Us, The Pharaohs" opens things in a Scott Walker style, while "Free Again" modulates that vibe with flashes of Bacharach. "Love" and "Good Start" are full of the kind of pep that fueled the best records from The Divine Comedy, with the players here, especially vocalist Farrington, understanding how to straddle the thin line between tribute and original work. There's so much here on this impeccably-produced and arranged record that Once feels nearly unique, even if lots of the pieces here, and melodies, echo Sixties giants. Closer "Tonight" melds all that with suggestions of Dots and Loops-era Stereolab in the instrumentation. Once is a uniformly fine record, and one which is sure to please fans of the last one from Le SuperHomard. Even if it's a lot different.
Once is out today via Talitres.
More details on Le SuperHomard via the official website.
[Photo: Melanie Elbaz]