MYSELFSON: Resistance (OTHERS): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Myselfson is a french duo composed of Jarl Myselfson and Frank Nordag, who define their music as electro-rock-industrial, with influences ranging from Depeche Mode to Nine Inch Nails. “Resistance,” their second album, also features gothic accents and a connection to synth-pop, represented in particular by Waiting for Words, one of whose tracks is covered here (“By Your Side”), while a remix (“Every Night is a Fight”) is offered by one of the group's members.

After a gentle “Prélude” with hints of Yann Tiersen, the dance machine offers us a club version with techno accents of a track (“Rain & Pain”) from the first album, a song that we might prefer in the extended version at the end of the album. However, it's impossible to keep your feet on the ground with this opening, especially as the title track (‘Resistance’) drives the point home, this time with a hypnotic melody and arrangements, and vocals that borrow a few elements from French!

And while Depeche Mode and even the Pet Shop Boys are never far away, the mood is often dark, as confirmed by ‘Every Night is a Fight’ and even more so by ‘Das ist Unsere Welt’ (sung in German, of course), whose chorus is reminiscent of ‘Un Homme Pressé’ (Noir Désir), a track that perfectly synthesizes all the influences mentioned at the beginning of this review. However, Myselfson also delivers much more mainstream tracks with charming melodies such as “To Love Again,” but even more so the superb “Home Sweet Home,” borrowed from 19th-century English composer Henry Bishop. And what about “Freeman,” which concludes the album? A completely experimental journey with extraordinary work on the sounds that takes us somewhere on the edge of the Australian bush? Or is it a complete hypnosis of the senses? Everyone will have their own opinion on this magnificent track, which is quite different from the rest of the album but ultimately completely indispensable.

Without being an expert in the genre, the listener quickly finds themselves drawn into Myselfson's world and can only admire the work done on the sounds and the harmony between the different sound sources, whether electronic or less virtual. It certainly takes a little time to take in the whole of this very long album (74 minutes), but once the last notes of “Freeman” have faded away, the desire to return to the beginning of the first track is very much present. Mission accomplished. - Official website

MYSELFSON

RESISTANCE

AUTRE LABEL

OTHERS