PAN M 360 / TOP 100 : Oracle Sisters – Hydranism

Vingt de nos contributeurs et contributrices ont eu la tâche de choisir et de présenter succinctement 5 enregistrements, parmi leurs préférés de 2023. Les Over the past few weeks, our most active record reviewers have had the task of choosing their 5 favorite recordings of 2023, and here they are. This selection is unique and quite different of all you can find on the web or through traditional medias.. Cette sélection de 100 albums est unique, voire très différente de tout ce que vous pouvez trouver sur le web ou dans les médias traditionnels. Durant tout le temps des Fêtes, découvrez notre sélection!

The Paris-based trio of Lewis Lazar, Christopher Willatt and Julia Johansen, together conjure up a sepia-tinted indie folk sound that is wistful, whimsical, poignant, and playful, all at once. They may as well be called Wes Anderson, the band. Certainly, their debut album, Hydranism, plays much like stepping into one of Anderson’s vividly crafted cinemascapes. And really the best part of Oracle Sisters is that the substance is there to match the style. Drawing from the cafe jazz of the 1950s, the baroque psychedelia of the 1960s, the folk ballads of the 1970s, and the dreamy synth-pop of the 1980s, their music embodies a rich timelessness that doesn’t feel stagnant. Their arrangements are drenched in warm, analog tones, at the heart of which are acoustic guitars, a bass, a dusty upright, a dry-sounding drum set, and a tape machine – lending an authentic touch to their compositions. It is nice to hear each member of the band exchange vocal duties, and Christopher, who seems to sing most of the lead, has a Dylan-esque voice well suited to this style. Each of the eleven songs effortlessly blend together, creating a seamless narrative that feels like a collection of mini-musical vignettes, each with its own distinct personality. For fans of Oracle Sisters already, this release was much anticipated, and the band delivered with poise and a light touch.

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