Electrelane
No Shouts, No Calls

THE REVIEW

I was lately reflecting on the phallic nature of rock music, on its being primarily a playground for male cogitations, fantasies, and hormones. Even though they are still outnumbered (in a general perspective), the widespread diffusion of music over the last 10 years has generated a growing proliferation of all-female bands, like the ladies in question.

Electrelane loves circular structures, melodies (but also not) that cross the finish line multiple times before ending the race, grandchildren of a kraut setup between Neu! and Can, and daughters of the analog diversions of early Stereolab. The substantial difference compared to the last "Axes" is the great attention to melodies, enough to make long-time fans wrinkle their noses. But not me.

Maybe it's the summer, with its indolent pace, the blazing sun, the lapping of the sea, and other stereotypical variations on the theme, but this hypnotic melodic formula has positively won me over. To be clear, Electrelane has not turned into a girl band like the Pipettes; they have simply smoothed out some edges, balancing their idea of a song form excellently. And they have not renounced an inspired psychedelic vein. Exemplary in this sense is the semi-instrumental triptych "Tram 21", an analog fantasy reminiscent of Stereolab, "Between The Wolf And The Dog", a hypnotic pursuit of bass and guitar towards unusual desert extensions, "Five", with its appropriately sinusoidal and narcoleptic progression. But it is the accentuated melodic side that gives us the less cerebral emotions.

The initial duo "The Greater Times"/"To The East" relies on immediately gripping refrains, driven by rhythms as minimal as they are sticky, both perfectly integrated with Verity Susman's off-key voice, never so much in the foreground. Also ingenious is the Sonic Youth/Pavement mix of "The Call", or the intimate melodies of "Saturday" and "At Sea", or the strange ballad "Cut And Run".

Therefore, an album of uncertain paternity, but birthed and nurtured by four nurturing and musically gifted mothers. Recommended listening both during the period of menarche and during ovulation.