Belle Histoire - I Can Tell EP Review
Well worth a look, and a full length that looks to be well worth the wait.
rating: 4
This Valentines day inVogue Records were nice enough to gift us with their newest signing; the indie five piece Belle Histoire. Normally renowned for their heavier acts the independent label having taken a step outside their comfort zone in signing this Cincinnati collective. Though if this debut EP is anything to go by, it was a step in the right direction. Formed in the spring of 2011 by frontlady Jane Smith and guitarist Aaron Hunt, they soon roped in the helping hands of Wes Comer, (the brilliantly named) Austin Livingood and Mitch Winsett (on drums, guitar and bass respectively) to fill out and define their sound. Doing the rounds for the rest of 2011, 2012 saw them signed to inVogue and this Valentines day saw them release their debut EP, with plans of a full length to follow this summer.
With spring round the corner and love in the air, for their brand of indie pop, this is an ideal time to release their EP, with Summer being perfect for a full length. The five piece deliver a clearly indie influenced sound and backing, but with pop sensibilities splashed all over it. With the upbeat choruses and the vocals like a summer breeze, this band are ripe for sound tracking any romantic indie flick that the summer might have to offer. Opener Stay a While is near perfect pop, catchy as hell, breezy with just enough independent inflection to give it a genuine quality while its melodies worm their way inside. So too with Be Alright, though its lyrics are more poignant and hopeful, with some mellower verses against the straight up bouncy chorus. http://youtu.be/O6wmRJJcGmg Though, as with any act worth their salt, its not all sunshine, and the final two tracks offer up some versatility. Misguided being guided by piano as it looks back on its mistakes whilst the guitars are atmospheric and the chorus emotive and powerful, as Jane Smith sings of realizing that you never loved me at all. Sailing Ships further sails into the melancholia, with very light and delicate instrumentation before building and filling out under the haunting vocals on display here. Theres a lot of promise in these four for tracks, and for four tracks theres plenty on offer; something genuine, passionate, emotive and with a deftness for melody. The band have been nice enough to leave the album streaming this first week of release on Spinner, and its available for download on iTunes. Well worth a look, and a full length that looks to be well worth the wait.