Margo - Catnap

by Chris Jones

published: 27 / 3 / 2004

Label: Tsk! Tsk!
Format: CD

"Subtle and soft" electro-pop debut album from French trio Margo, who the indie world will hopefully be hearing much more from in the future

Review

It seems that electro-pop is quietly becoming the new indie rock around my neck of the woods. At the cool Japanese restaurant down the street, not only is it often played on the stereo but you can overhear conversations about the latest electro-pop releases and shows. While I haven't heard anyone mention this debut LP by Margo yet, I won't be surprised when I do. Margo isn't really a "Margo". It's three people from France who make the kind of music that will feel immediately familiar to fans of the Morr Music sound or the likes of I Am Robot and Proud or Mira Calix. It's subtle and soft, but it doesn't just blow away and get lost in the background. The majority of the songs on this album have female vocals which add to the soft feel of the music. At times, the vocals sound a bit like what I imagine a 13-year old Hope Sandoval would sound like. And at the age of 13, "Hope" sounds a bit happier than she does in Mazzy Star. Musically, there is the requisite mix of electronics and "real" instruments that seem to define the electro-pop sound. The electronics bring the beats and big, deep, grumbly bass tones along with some glitches and odd noises here and there (does a coffee maker count as an electronic instrument?). The "real" instruments tend to bring the melody and a bit of warmth with them. The guitar at the beginning of the song 'Ma Voisine' even manages to give a post-rock feel (Bark Psychosis not Tortoise) and it would have been nice to hear more than just the 2 minutes that this song spans. Fortunately, there's more guitar and some piano in the next song "Cloud's Juice' and this song lasts about 8 minutes. This debut full length from Margo is a welcome addition to the electro-pop library. It's subtle and soothing in a noticeable way. It seems to create a sense of space without claiming that space nor getting lost in it. Hopefully we'll hear more from Margo in the future and maybe by then we'll know if electro-pop is the new indie rock or just the adult contemporary of the indie and electronica generations.