new music: stream la bronze’s gorgeous self-titled debut #soundcheck

With a voice somehow reminiscent of Nena by way of Lianne La Havas, Québécoise singer La Bronze makes a breed of indie pop that’s simultaneously nostalgic and forward thinking. Big analog synths and 80’s straight ahead beats dominate an album also full of 2nd wave post-punk bass and the occasional neo-soul nod. It’s a melange of sounds and cultures that captures focus and attention on her self-titled full length.

By Nathan Leigh, AFROPUNK Contributor

“Sache Que” quickly establishes a retro vibe over a wash a bubbling synths and La Bronze’s ethereal voice. Driving drums and distorted guitars cut in as the song builds into a fist raising anthem. It’s beautiful, haunting, and dominating. “Explose-moi” opens with a riff on Yves Montand’s “Les Feuilles Mortes” before building into an anthem worthy of a Bloc Party nodding 80’s film montage. Neon leg warmers not included. On “Vortex,” La Bronze throws a bluesy stomp into the mix before indulging in full-on synthpop with the album’s most single-worthy track “La Jeunesse Féline.”

The record is heavily indebted to French chanson, either “Pas de Mâle” or “Pas Pour Tes Beaux Yeux Que Je Crèverai Les Miens,” could be a lost Edith Piaf composition. Meanwhile, spoken word bits and experimental a capella vocals abound like on the brief and stunning “Je T’ai Bu.” The record closes out with the epic “J’ai Les Étoiles Dans Ma Chambre.” It’s a song that marries La Bronze’s intimate vocal performance with her cinematic scope for the most hauntingly beautiful use of a blast beat so far this year. Action filmmakers: I found the music for your climactic battle sequence. Everyone else: I hope you have a decent pair of headphones. This is music you need to live inside of for a minute.