Alcest - Kodama - review
Alcest - Kodama - review
Tracklist
01. Kodama02. Eclosion
03. Je Suis D'ailleurs
04. Untouched
05. Oiseaux De Proie
06. Onyx
07. Notre Sang Et Nos Penseées [bonus]
A review by
corrupt September 30, 2016
Neige has always been an artist who appears, more than most of his colleagues, to be in the game solely for his own sake - an artist who's just genuinely happy if you like the music he makes and also one that will probably sincerely apologize to you if you don't. I have rarely seen a musician so perfectly, positively flabbergasted by fans singing along and cheering at the stage. That particular character trait of his is what makes me believe to this day that there is no hidden agenda in any of his work. It must simply be what he feels like writing. Apparently, this time he felt like writing Les Voyages Deux. Trust me, you already know this album, even if you haven't heard it yet, and if you feel constantly reminded of "Nous Sommes L'emeraude" while listening to it, then don't worry - it's not just you.
That doesn't mean the album is completely devoid of shrieks or harsh elements, but it would appear that the casual listener will spend a whole spin of it unavailingly waiting for an edge that feels so close and yet never really unfolds. All the while Neige's die-hard fans should begin to realize that, in a genre like shoegaze, sound is not the only defining factor. If you don't bring the harmonies and the buildup, however, there is only the sound left for fans to cling to for shelter (pun intended). Then forget to tune down your guitar and you will be verging on the edge of dreampop just like Kodama is. The majority of these seven tracks are mid-tempo ballads; "Untouched" even sounds like a Shelter B-side, very dominantly featuring warm guitar sounds and long bridges. Three distinct elements pull the sound towards that of earlier releases: drums, riffing, and vocals. None of these evokes the same atmosphere they did on Écailles De Lune, but they do a good job in returning a bit of that familiar feeling that Shelter was lacking. Given a bit of time, I'm sure it'll grow on me.
Maybe this is my own expectations betraying me here, expectations I probably shouldn't have had in the first place. Maybe I'll even look back at this in a few years asking, "What the hell I was thinking, writing such a review?" But right now I cannot see this as more than Neige's early work's little brother. It is still undeniably Alcest - as was Shelter. But I've had so many great moments with this band, so many long nights in front of the record player, and so many great concerts, that I refuse to think this is the best he can do, or this is where Alcest ends musically. I'll still enjoy this, as will most of you, probably; but I'll also keep building up expectations, waiting for the next one.
Written by corrupt | September 30, 2016
Comments
Comments:
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Posts: 18614
It seems that Kodama's reception depend greatly on how you approach it. Unlike you, I had ZERO expectations from this album. Shelter was such a low blow (and Les Voyages was "just good") that I completely gave up on Alcest altogether. I haven't heard the full album but I did hear the three songs they released it... And from what I heard this seems like quite the return from Niege (at least for these ears) and I actually feel an Écailles De Lune vibe on the tunes I heard, specially when the shrieks and drums kicked in. I also suspect a small Mono (and post-rock in general) influence on this album, which isn't surprining since Alcest will tour along with Mono soon. So excited for that tour.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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Posts: 5277
I just don't get how you were expecting a full-blown return to previous works - that's the interpretation I get - I apologize if I missed the mark there... If so, what in the Alcest time line made you think that. I believe Neige listened to the feedback from Shelter and went this direction for the fans. I am shocked he has gone backwards - so to speak. Excellent review and thanks.
---- rekt
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Posts: 3645
"Right in the middle between Shelter and Les Voyages de L'âme - that's where Kodama puts itself. That should be what most people will come here to find out, so I'll say it right away." Thanks, then I don't have to read the review nor listen to the album! 
---- I hate bonus tracks
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Posts: 4314 Written by X-Ray Rod on 01.10.2016 at 02:10 Absolutely. Been looking forward to that for a while.  Written by tea[m]ster on 01.10.2016 at 02:21 I guess I wasn't really expecting a full-blown return. But I was hoping for a bit more atmosphere. Neige used to have a really good hand for haunting harmonies on his earlier albums. Kodama defnitely sounds more like Écailles or Les Voyages than Shelter did. Just without the same atmosphere. As far as where I got my expectations, Neige told me himself. I had a lengthy chat with him a few months ago after a show. He was quite open about how the album went and said he was a bit surprised himself hearing how the music turned out. He told me to expect something more akin to his early albums, so I did 
---- 
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Posts: 18614 Written by Zap on 01.10.2016 at 12:18 Well, I don't really agree with corrupt to be honest. I did not like Shelter one bit and this albums sounds more in touch with Écailles. You should at least give "Oiseaux de Proie" a fair chance. 
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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Posts: 106
This album is great! it's got great feel and the melodies and atmosphere are hauntingly beautiful. Haven't heard something that good for a long time.
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Posts: 3645 Written by X-Ray Rod on 02.10.2016 at 18:33 Right, that song was pretty good. I might give the album a listen after all, but I'm still putting my expectations pretty low 
---- I hate bonus tracks
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Posts: 64374
I think biggts problem is some ppl wants that this band is BM, what they never have been btw, drop BM factor and enjoy music
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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Posts: 5824 Written by Bad English on 04.10.2016 at 20:06 Le Secret EP was quite the black metal though... After that, yeah, it always has been to the shoegaze side... Since it's a very known band people who don't quite "get" shoegaze keep expecting black metal from them, which they won't get. But it's a good band if you look past it and are looking for gaze stuff. I don't look for shoe/blackgaze anymore though, so not for me I guess... I would like if better it was more like the 1st ep too =p
---- "Aah! The cat turned into a cat!" - Reimu Hakurei
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