Track Of The Day Basse Fidélité
Let’s ice out our late woozy summer days with the off-kilter synthetic sound from the enigmatic French solo project, Basse Fidélité, whose debut 2-tracker, simply called EP1, embraces a minimal, mechanical, pulsing analogue coldwave aesthetic.
Although released on video in early August, which we somehow missed, the opening tune, “Par example” uses poetry and metaphor to describe the overwhelming annihilation of humanity at the hands of systemic oppression, w ‘blessed’ by a nimble, elastic and punchy bassline that oscillates and snakes ceaselessly, underpinned by a tight steady drum machine, flashed intermittingly by a wistful string of icy bright synth chords, around achingly detached deep vocals, surrounded by foreboding ceremonial hums, shed cries of anger and pain into the hopeless gravelly sands of time.
More menacing, sharp and syncopated, “Plus de larmes”, lead by obsessively twinkling rhythmic keyboard chimes, layered with dense snapping bass throbs and twirling Middle Eastern flourishes, while droning clouds of dirging murky synth looming around ominous disturbed vocals and anxious female echoes, simmer on the edge of exasperation.
French cold wave of obscure, powerful, emotional energy combined with algid, chilling and mechanized tones, all enhanced by nihilistic and poetic lyrics drenched in existential angst, compelling debut!
The surreal visuals capture the ridiculous, deserted and robotic sentiments of current dystopic times through a wicked sense of humour and jest.
