Maurice - Bulldog

by Zena Grieg

published: 8 / 6 / 2025

Label: Fatea Records
Format: CD

Intriguing debut album from atmospheric French-American band Maurice which is dedicated to joy and rebellion

Review

Franco-American band Maurice, formed in 2021 while lead singer, American singer-songwriter, classically trained soprano and multi-instrumentalist Amy Kyle was living in Paris, have released their first album, “Bulldog”, dedicated to joy and rebellion. Kyle had sung for years with the Salt Lake City Opera, but left this and the traditions of the Mormon culture she was raised in to move to Paris, performing as a soloist for local jazz bands and translating poems she had written into music, the forming of the new band Maurice the next evolution in her musical career. Performing alongside Kyle in Maurice are guitarist Guillaume Perrin, bassist Slim Abida and drummer Laurent Series with violinist Claire Desmoulin. Kyle’s music has been described as “sexy, sneaky and quirky” and the songs in 'Bulldog' are eclectic with rock, soul, Latin and jazz influences. Explaining the choice of title, Kyle said it was “a symbol of the tenacity that was required to make this album, but also the tenacity that’s been required to go through the process of creating and recreating and watching these songs evolve.” At the core of ‘Bulldog’ is “an exploration of all kinds of love” with other key themes change, perseverance and growth. Songs to listen out for in this ten-track collection include: the opener, the striking ‘Wingspan’ (“ a story about living (and freeing myself”) with its riveting rhythm and Kyle’s meandering vocals underscoring the sense of liberty in its lyrics; the rocking ‘Sunrise Symphony’; atmospheric ‘New York’ with its expressive violin; the soulful ‘Rainbow Soul’; catchy ‘San Francisco’; the single ‘Cherry Moon’ with its elaborate orchestration; and the sensual closer ‘Mango’. ‘Bulldog’ is an intriguing mix of original songs, brought to life by a talented band of musicians.