imveryape

APES & HORSES – MAGENTA

I have my own conspiracy theory that Air, Daft Punk, M83 and Justice are in fact all the same two Frenchmen. Call me crazy, put I have never seen two of those duos in the same place at the same time. Of course, the main reason I joke about this is because stylistically, all four bands share qualities. France has become the forerunner of this genre. In fact, The North American music consumer has become so accustomed to hearing funky electronica from France, that any other style comes as a shock. If it isn’t a dance party classic, it is an uber-cool Phoenix, or Air track. But Apes & Horses couldn’t be a further away sound. It sounds distinctly un-European (excluding Britain), with a blend of American Band of Horses, and chest pounding emotional a la British Wu Lyf. It comes together as a whiskey soaked, late night desperate rambling, and it is incredibly beautiful. The lead singer’s passionate cries are framed perfectly by the echoing guitar notes and angelic background vocals. It is an astounding listen, and may alter our perceptions of France as producers of super stylish, polished lounge music exclusively.