Moulettes - Constellations

  by Benjamin Howarth

published: 12 / 6 / 2014

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Formed on England's south coast as teenagers, Moulettes have steadily built a reputation with their classical infused modern-folk. Now, with their third album, and first for Navigator Records (home to a number of BBC folk award winners) this seems the ideal time to capitalise. To seal the deal, they've roped in some noteworthy guests, including ringleaders of UK folk (The Unthanks) indie fellow travellers (Band of Skulls' Emma Richardson and Mystery Jets' Blaine Harrison) and also the completely unexpected (Arthur Brown – yes, that one). But, this isn't the dignified 'folk with a twist' you might expect from a band with their background. Instead, Moulettes have just gone for broke – experimenting with hip-hop, roping in an orchestra and collaborating with friends from Brighton's dubstep scene. A risk, yes. But, what emerges is a concise set of playful, catchy and generally radio-friendly pop songs. 'Constellations' begins with the exuberant pop of 'Glorious Year', placing songwriter Hannah Miller's delicate alto over soaring violins and clipped, electronic percussion. A promising start, but they quickly move to more exciting territory with the title track – a swirling, electronic soundscape with a vocal line, somewhere between rapping, dancehall patois and trad-folk. Let's be honest, that's not a combination you'd expect to work – but here, delivered sincerely, it's rather effective. As 'Constellations' goes through its many motions, the constant twists and turns don't always make for easy listening – for example, a percussion breakdown on 'The Observatory' reminds me of the freeform jazz of the likes of Polar Bear. At other times, Moulettes might be just too poppy for some ears. But, even then, it's hard not to fall for the dancefloor stomp of a track like 'So It Goes'. 'The Day At A Time' could have wandered in off a Divine Comedy album, with a melodramatic string arrangement and a theatrical vocal – swinging from celebratory to conspiratorial to heartbroken. If there is sometimes a fine line between pop and musical theatre, this song has fallen over it – but it does so with vim and, crucially, a memorable tune. Even better is the six-minute 'Between Two Mirrors', a duet with the Mystery Jets' Blaine Harrison. The combination of thumping drums, strings and horns will please fans of Bellowhead (once on the same label), while there is more than a hint of Bjork in the vulnerable, affecting melody. Moulettes will spend their summer touring the UK's various folk festivals big and small, where – if the drama and dexterity of their studio work is anything to go by – they will go down a storm. They may soon outgrow their folk roots though. If they get played in the right places, they might find a more fervent a fanbase among fans of Sparks, Kate Bush and Joanna Newsome than they will from supporting Fairport Convention. And 'Constellations' deserves nothing less.

Track Listing:-

1 Glorious Year (Turn of the Centuries)
2 Constellations
3 Lady Vengeance (feat. Arthur Brown
4 The Night Is Young
5 Between Two Mirrors (feat. Blaine Ha
6 So It Goes
7 Land of the Midnight Sun (feat. Herb
8 Elegy (feat. The Unthanks)
9 The Observatory
10 Keep It as a Memory (feat. Faye Hous
11 Constellations (Away from Home) [fe
12 Gentleman Vengeance (Mike Dennis
13 Glorious Year (Jimthefingers Mix) [Bo
14 Lady Vengeance (Champion Fever Re
15 Lady Vengeance (Fredrik Kinbom Ver
16 Revenge of the Bear (Matt Gest Piano

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Moulettes/181614811902710
http://www.moulettes.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/moulettes

Label Links:-

http://www.navigatorrecords.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/navigatorrecords
https://twitter.com/navigatorrecs
https://www.pinterest.com/PaperAmusic/
https://www.youtube.com/user/PaperAeroplanesMusic
http://www.last.fm/music/Paper+Aeroplanes

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