Scenius - High Low

by Dave Goodwin

published: 8 / 11 / 2022

Label: Scenius
Format: Download

Excellent electronica on distinctive new single from French-UK duo Scenius

Review

It seems a long time since we had the pleasure of reviewing the debut album from synth lovers Scenius. It was actually January 2021 when we introduced you to UK producer Steve Whitfield (The Cure, the Mission, Jane Weaver) and French singer Fabrice Nau, who with the help of a few vintage synths and drum machines gave us ‘Enough Fears’ which, apart from sounding quite soulful, I thought had tinges of Numan, classic Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, strangely Fad Gadget and smatterings of John Foxx hidden in it. You may well have seen them too in a review we did for the ‘Generation Blitz’ compilation album? Well, at long last, not only have the duo managed to take the Scenius truck out into the live venues in France (check out videos on YouTube of live shows including one from Angers which is quite good) but they have also treated us once again to another offering of sonic delight in the form of their latest single ‘High Low’, which is taken from their second album due out in January 2023. In drawing from that sound that they craft so well, the whole theme on this is an ethos that vintage synth sounds can be given a modern twist. Scenius themselves have likened the sound, not just to the aforementioned but also Underworld during their ‘Second Toughest in the Infants’ era; or even some of the Chemical Brothers’ more atmospheric material. This for me is even more wonderfully synth-laden than the material that came before. ‘High Low’ is everything you want in these modern times to take you back to where it started. Fabrice’s vocals are perfectly matched to Steve’s sonic meanderings and this creates a distinctive sound that transports me to early Depeche Mode and just like the official video then throws me into the world today. I am looking forward to the day these guys tell me the new album is landing. This is Sceniusly good.