Any Shape You Like Is Painted On The Night

Fievel Is Glauque “Dark Dancing”

“Dark Dancing” is a demo that Fievel Is Glauque decided to release as-is rather than fully flesh it out, and I think that was a wise decision in that this recording captures something I find distinct and interesting about them. That is, they write these sophisticated little songs steeped in jazz and mid-20th century adult-oriented pop but perform them very loose and off-the-cuff, which ends up highlighting their eccentricity and adding a touch of rawness and naivete that would typically be lost in a type of music dominated by slick professionals. There’s a twitchiness to their music too, particularly in Ma Clément’s vocal cadences. “Dark Dancing” has a lovely melody but the notes bunch up in odd ways, often moving a bit diagonal from where you think they’ll go. This approach could be abrasive, but for the most part it’s not, as Clément’s cool and calm voice makes every move seem totally rational.

Buy it from Bandcamp.