Alcest

Engine · 06-05-2012, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hip hop bunny hop

Hmm.

I revisited this band. The album "Souvenirs...." is pretty cool.

Easily their best album, to me. And a really great album in general.
A lot of people orgasmed all over their next one (cuzza the bursts of screaming maybe?) and I like it well enough. But the one they released next after the next one made me a true believer that Souvenirs is their peak. I'm curious to hear your thoughts on post-Souvenirs Alcest if you have any.

Also, I wonder what you might think of their Le Secret EP. I think it sounds mostly like crap but I've been meaning to hear the recent re-issue to check for any kind of improvement.

hip hop bunny hop · 06-06-2012, 12:03 AM

I'll give you a heads up on my opinion of those albums when I get around to it. So far I've only heard a track off the new album; and it was pretty much made me write this band off. My tastes may have changed since then, but we'll see.

Have you heard Solstafir, Engine? They put out a double album recently, and I keep finding my way back to this track from the first disc. It's more conventional than Alcest, both musically and emotionally, but it is well executed, this track in particular:

Metal Connoisseur · 06-06-2012, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Engine

Easily their best album, to me. And a really great album in general.
A lot of people orgasmed all over their next one (cuzza the bursts of screaming maybe?) and I like it well enough. But the one they released next after the next one made me a true believer that Souvenirs is their peak. I'm curious to hear your thoughts on post-Souvenirs Alcest if you have any.

Also, I wonder what you might think of their Le Secret EP. I think it sounds mostly like crap but I've been meaning to hear the recent re-issue to check for any kind of improvement.

I quite liked the re-issue, the sonic dynamics found on "Elevation" are of the highest quality.

duga · 06-06-2012, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hip hop bunny hop

I'll give you a heads up on my opinion of those albums when I get around to it. So far I've only heard a track off the new album; and it was pretty much made me write this band off. My tastes may have changed since then, but we'll see.

Have you heard Solstafir, Engine? They put out a double album recently, and I keep finding my way back to this track from the first disc. It's more conventional than Alcest, both musically and emotionally, but it is well executed, this track in particular:

The video is kinda cool and the song started off well enough, but I got pretty bored of it about 3/4 of the way through. Is the album a bit more dynamic than this track?

Engine · 06-06-2012, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hip hop bunny hop

I'll give you a heads up on my opinion of those albums when I get around to it. So far I've only heard a track off the new album; and it was pretty much made me write this band off. My tastes may have changed since then, but we'll see.

Have you heard Solstafir, Engine? They put out a double album recently, and I keep finding my way back to this track from the first disc. It's more conventional than Alcest, both musically and emotionally, but it is well executed, this track in particular:

I listened to most of the double album and I really like it.
I remember back when ISIS made 'Oceanic' (one of if not my favorite 'post-metal' albums of all time) and they stated that they felt like exploring the non-metal music they enjoyed like The Cure and Swans.
I feel like I can hear stuff like that in the Solstafir album you're talking about. Definitely good.

Zer0 · 12-09-2013, 05:24 PM

New Alcest song from their forthcoming album Shelter:

Certainly something a bit different and a move in a more lighter dream-pop direction. It's okay I guess but nothing special. I know they couldn't stay combining black metal and shoegaze influences forever but I feel that on Souvenirs d'un autre monde and Écailles de Lune they had a sound that was their own. With the song above there's nothing really distinctive about it as such or anything to make me look forward to their new album more. A new direction might have some potential but they really need to deliver something special on the new album.

Mojo · 12-09-2013, 05:30 PM

Did you like Les Voyages de l'Âme, Zer0?

Zer0 · 12-09-2013, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo

Did you like Les Voyages de l'Âme, Zer0?

I was disappointed with it at the time, found it very bland and unmemorable, which is why I'm hoping the new album will be something special that will restore my faith in Alcest. I know Neige is capable of creating some amazing music.

Mojo · 12-09-2013, 05:53 PM

I wasn't a great fan of it at the time either but I really like it now.

In terms of a direction, I'm not sure what I'd prefer. I sometimes feel as though the black metal tag has held them back. It's discredited them in certain circles, when I dont even consider them very black metal at all. They are a shoegaze band. The black metal elements are few and far between. On one hand I'd be happy to see them move away from it altogether in favour of something new, but then again when I went to see them live I was very disappointed with them, and the best parts of the set by far were the tracks featuring Neiges harsher, black metal vocals.

EDIT: He/they/whatever.

Zer0 · 12-09-2013, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo

I wasn't a great fan of it at the time either but I really like it now.

In terms of a direction, I'm not sure what I'd prefer. I sometimes feel as though the black metal tag has held them back. It's discredited them in certain circles, when I dont even consider them very black metal at all. They are a shoegaze band. The black metal elements are few and far between. On one hand I'd be happy to see them move away from it altogether in favour of something new, but then again when I went to see them live I was very disappointed with them, and the best parts of the set by far were the tracks featuring Neiges harsher, black metal vocals.

EDIT: He/they/whatever.

I suppose the black metal tag has stuck with them from their early releases but I definitely wouldn't call them a black metal band now. Yeah it is a bit of a curse as it holds them back somewhat and also results in them getting a lot of hate in more conservative metal circles. However it's the black metal elements which make Écailles de Lune my favourite Alcest album because of the dynamic it adds to the music. A lack of distinct evolution was another thing that made Les Voyages de l'Âme a disappointment for me so I'd be very happy to hear something different this time.

06-06-2012, 12:03 AM	#52 (permalink)
hip hop bunny hop Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,381	I'll give you a heads up on my opinion of those albums when I get around to it. So far I've only heard a track off the new album; and it was pretty much made me write this band off. My tastes may have changed since then, but we'll see. Have you heard Solstafir, Engine? They put out a double album recently, and I keep finding my way back to this track from the first disc. It's more conventional than Alcest, both musically and emotionally, but it is well executed, this track in particular: __________________ Have mercy on the poor.

12-09-2013, 05:24 PM	#56 (permalink)
Zer0 ∞ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 3,792	New Alcest song from their forthcoming album Shelter: Certainly something a bit different and a move in a more lighter dream-pop direction. It's okay I guess but nothing special. I know they couldn't stay combining black metal and shoegaze influences forever but I feel that on Souvenirs d'un autre monde and Écailles de Lune they had a sound that was their own. With the song above there's nothing really distinctive about it as such or anything to make me look forward to their new album more. A new direction might have some potential but they really need to deliver something special on the new album. __________________ Last FM \| RYM \| The Final Sound

12-09-2013, 05:30 PM	#57 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	Did you like Les Voyages de l'Âme, Zer0? __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

12-09-2013, 05:53 PM	#59 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	I wasn't a great fan of it at the time either but I really like it now. In terms of a direction, I'm not sure what I'd prefer. I sometimes feel as though the black metal tag has held them back. It's discredited them in certain circles, when I dont even consider them very black metal at all. They are a shoegaze band. The black metal elements are few and far between. On one hand I'd be happy to see them move away from it altogether in favour of something new, but then again when I went to see them live I was very disappointed with them, and the best parts of the set by far were the tracks featuring Neiges harsher, black metal vocals. EDIT: He/they/whatever. __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust