Julien Amar – Feelin Steady?!
Julien Amar sounds like Alex Turner’s less tech-paranoid cousin, who has not yet gotten tired of wearing out a good retro-style groove, nor has he lost his ability to write a hook and build a single around it.
From the artwork to the way that Amar disposes of the chorus, there’s a careless attitude about the way he seems to be willing to toss this song away. Not even his attitude to his work can disguise the fact that this is a nearly perfect pop tune.
Its lyrics are clever and snarky. Its musical foundation sounds like it was swiped from the best source material. And, the end result is something that few would resist dancing around to, and I advise you to break off your friendship with anyone who wouldn’t. Julien Amar is a neat guy.
Lucertole – Ritornare
Somewhere along the way, prog-rock got a sense of humour and an unexpected appreciation for alternative rock’s uncomplicated way of doing things. Lucertole sound like they could play their way out of a festival dedicated to Frank Zappa, but choose to display their musical chops only on extraordinary occasions.
Ritornare is a seven-minute song with more than a quarter of it occupied by an instrumental intro. But, hey, write a two-minute hard-rocker, and you potentially lose out on the respect of the well-playing prog-elite forever. Or, worse still, write that kind of tune and see yourself without a band, as the musicians begin to flee in search of other avenues that will make the best out of their impressive brains and considerable attention spans.
The good news is that Ritornare does not merely meander. It sets an interesting mood then rides it throughout with interesting, expressive musical motifs used throughout the duration of the song.
The tune is really a suite of small musical moments tied together interestingly and making the listener feel as if they’re riding down a slow roller coaster.