Steeple Remove - Dans La Solitude Des Grands Rayons Lumineux

by John Clarkson

published: 4 / 5 / 2005

Steeple Remove - Dans La Solitude Des Grands Rayons Lumineux

Label: There's A Riot Going On
Format: 7"

Cinematic and futuristic electronica from French art rock project Steeple Remove, making their UK debut as the second release of There's a Riot Goin' On's new music sans frontieres initiative

Review

Steeple Remove are a five piece art rock project from Rouen. They released their self-titled debut album earlier this year in their native France on Sordide Sentimental, a long-standing cult experimental label, which has also been responsible for putting out records by Joy Division and Durutti Column. 'Dans La Solitude Des Grands Rayons Lumineux', which is loosely translated as 'Alone in the Spotlight', and which has come out on 7" vinyl on There's a Riot Goin' On, is their first British release. Cinematic and futuristic, it is a slowly evolving nearly six minute epic of striking, haunting contrasts. Harsh, industrial buzzers of synthesiser and grinding glowers of bass are pressed together with drowsy beats and dreamy, layered washes of fluttering electric guitar. An eerie, distant vocal is meanwhile pushed way down in the mix, merging with the instrumentation to create one of the most enigmatic, but compelling releases of the year to date. It is perhaps just as well that there is a slab of vinyl to seperate 'Dans La Solitude Des Grands Rayons Lumineux' from the other track on this record. The B side, 'Vital Sassoon', is a complete contradiction of everything that has already gone. An analogue instrumental dance rock number, it features jangly, speeding guitars, and owing a debt to surf music rather than as before to the 4AD label and the Cocteau Twins, it comes across as the sort of record that Dick Dale might have produced if he had put out 'Miserlou' in the 21st century rather than the 60's. 'Dans La Solitude Des Grands Rayons Lumineux' is the second release of There's a Riot Goin' On's new music sans frontieres initiative, the aim of which is to promote in Britain some of the best of new French music. It is completely fitting that Steeple Remove's debut UK release should have come out under this moniker. They do exactly that-create music without barriers.