Reviews

Artist:Soy Un Caballo
Album:Les Heures De Raison
Label:Folkwit
Tracks:12
Website:http://www.soyuncaballo.com

One of my all time favourite bands was the much missed Sundays. If you can imagine Harriet Wheeler singing in French amidst flower meadows, then you've already got close the duo that is Soy Un Caballo. Of course there is more to them than that. The band are based in continental Europe and have picked different influences and sounds. There's more ambience and less wistfulness for a start. Whilst there are similarities in the dream pop vocal, "Les Heures De Raison" feels more café aulait than English rose. It's an album that enchants and leaves you to imagine.

I only have a smattering of French, I pick out odd words and phrases. I have to feel the vocal and this means that songs change for me when I'm listening to the album, I'm more affected by mood than I would be if it were sung in a language I understand fully. I fill in the gaps.

Don't worry if you can speak the language. I'm reliably informed that it's not just the quality of the voice that's enchanting, the lyrics are rich in charm as well. You'll have a beautiful album, it'll just be different to the one I'm listening to.

It's not just Aurelie Muller's solo vocal, it's her interaction with Thomas Van Cottom. The harmonics of the two voices work extremely well and with the addition of some really sympathetic drumming on tracks like "La Lumiere Ser La Perlouse", Soy Un Caballo build up some interesting and complex layers across the album.

Van Cottom occasionally takes the lead to give the songs a different dimension as vocal roles switch priority across a song.

"Les Heures Du Raison" has a mellowness at it's heart, but it's not without a sense of purpose, it knows where it's going. It's just that it's in no particular rush and wants you to enjoy the journey."

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