Eva Blanche wears many hats in the industry: she’s a singer/songwriter, composer and musician. On her first EP METROPOLE PARADISE, Blanche describes her sound as lyrical punk. And the sound itself is overall a blend of rock, pop, electro and trip hop. But for the most part, I was getting electronica and an ‘80s vibe, especially on her opener “Traffic Space.” Backing Blanche on this EP are Alois L (synths), Valentin Couineau (bass) and Tiss Rodriguez (drums). Together, they bring together an intricate sound that feels dreamy and surreal all at once.
METROPOLE PARADISE begins with “Traffic Space,” where some industrial-like riffs come in. The sound is very gritty and ominous to my ears. Next, space-age synths arrive for an other-worldly feel. Soon, Blanche’s robotic-like vocals come in. This felt like an EDM track filled with heavy synths and electronic riffs. Blanche’s music here reminded me of Blondie. There was something about the music that brought the ‘80s to my mind. I enjoyed the retro-styled sounds here. Toward the end, Blanche’s vocals take on an operatic approach. More operatic singing comes from Blanche at the start of “Traumapolis.” Eerie synths come in adding an atmospheric vibe. As drums gain traction on this piano-led track, you can feel Blanche’s vocals arrest you with its compelling vibe. I was reminded of Feist and Bjork in this instance. More ominous synths arrive for an atmospheric listening experience on “To Walk Off Cliffs.” Out of the ether, comes a simple piano melody. Next, Blanche’s spoken word-like vocals enter. This track felt very stream-of-consciousness and quirky. Blanche employs tons of experimentation here on this artsy and avant garde song. On the title track “Metropole Paradise,” a somber piano tune comes in at the start of the track. Gradually, Blanche’s dream-like vocals arrive. She sings with mood and feeling, making this a fully charged delivery. There was a theatrical-ness to this song that reminded me of a Broadway performance. I thought this was a moving way for the artist to close her album. In her bio, Blanche says that this EP is very much inspired by the city. Field recordings of the metro and streets of Paris are very much a part of this album. And even the subject matter and overall vibe of her tracks takes on this urban feeling. Blanche has had training in theater and her flair for the theatrical is on full display on the set of songs here. Blanche had set out to explore different women’s destines through urban landscapes and I think she has succeeded. I look forward to hearing more in this vein from the artist soon.
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