Enon
High Society

THE REVIEW

I could end by saying this is a masterpiece, or I could start by singing its praises. Yes, because High Society is an album that is heartrending, sweet, sensual, romantic, and self-ironic at the same time.  It transitions from the melodic rock of "Old Domion" to the timeless ballad of "Count Sheep," where you want to cry but even the lyrics won't let you. The 8-bit voice of Toko Yasuda dominates the groove of "In This City" in a tangle of voices colliding over sweet pastel synths. Then comes the somewhat swaggering, somewhat college rock "Window Display" serving as a prelude to the tribal trip of "Native Numb," where Arabic mixes with lounge. "Leave It to Rust" is an alien pop rock made of glances that do not observe and light-hearted teases that return vibrant in the caramel pop of "Disposable Parts.”

“Sold” is a splendid ascent on a roller coaster of fresh sensations like its synth carpets. Shiny candies that don't last long, like "Shoulder," a decadent rundown to the rhythm of a sensual bass. "Pleasure and Privilege" is an acid and mystifying shard where the drums come to life on their own and dominate hues that are dark here and euphoric there. Then a jewel of rare craftsmanship "Natural Disasters" implodes in the stereo with the guitar that sounds like a violin, with psychedelic breaks from Venusian flutes speaking of never-ending conversations, emotions not to be felt, of outdated dinners rehashed again and again. "Carbonation" is a divertissement to be savored with a dry martini. "Salty" is a languid chase of words staging an explosive japrock.

"High Society" is a poignant poem that searches within us for the taste of beauty, of the refined, like the muted trumpet that seems to ask us who are we? Where do our dandies hide? What are our values? Until one day a woman will enter your lives to illuminate all the dark corners of the earth. The last "Diamond Raft" is a somewhat deflated and weary farewell to what has been a genuinely thrilling journey.

These are the records that tell us to know how to love ourselves. And I go back to counting sheep.