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Reviews

Odessey & Oracle — Crocorama
(Dur et Doux DD-042, 2020, CD / LP / DL)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2020-08-26

Crocorama Cover art

Crocorama is certainly an oddball release, especially in contrast to the other Dur et Doux releases we’ve reviewed over the years. Instead of the harsh and intense music of ni, Ultra Zook, Kouma, LFant, Le Grand Sbam, or Sec, Odessey & Oracle plays French avant pop music similar to French Boutik, but sans le grit. Odessey & Oracle is Fanny L’Héritier (vocals, electric piano, and analog keyboards), Alice Baudoin (harpsichord, positive pipe organ, recorder, and baroque oboe), Guillaume Médioni (guitar, banjo, bass guitar, analog synthesizers, and vocals), and Roméo Monteiro (drums and percussion). The first five songs are lightweight songs with breathy female vocals and a slight touch of ZNR and a hint of 70s progressive rock. “Mascara” particularly reminded me of that inane song “Mahna Mahna” that the Muppets so successfully lampooned in the 70s. When you finally make it to the sixth song, the title track, the band takes off. “Crocorama” is a catchy 60s styled pop psych song with banjo and electronics. Another highpoint is “Antoine Rouge” with its bubbly sequencers and French narration that climaxes with an excellent psych-prog jam that eclipses the rest of the album. The rest of the album is benign French psych-prog-pop with some interesting interplay between harpsichord, flute, electronics, and vocals. So if you are in the mood for a change of pace or relaxation, you may find Crocorama of interest.

Filed under: New releases, 2020 releases

Related artist(s): Odessey & Oracle, Bess of Bedlam (Fanny L’Héritier)

More info
http://duretdoux.bandcamp.com/album/crocorama

 

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