Elan Vital - Shadow Self

by Dave Goodwin

published: 8 / 5 / 2017

Label: Fishrider Records/Occultation Recordings
Format: CD

Addictive debut album from Dunedin, New Zealand-based 'dark disco' indie three-piece Élan Vital

Review

Élan Vital, a three-piece who champion what they describe as 'dark disco', are the latest band to emerge from Dunedin's evolving and vibrant music scene. The New Zealanders guilty of turning out this wonderful, melodic music are Renee Barrance who also graced the Hairdos and Canyon Spree, Danny Brady of Death and the Maiden and Thought Creature and Nikolai Sim from Terrified, Koyla and Scattered Brains of the Lovely Union. While defining themselves as 'dark disco', they play a mixture of cold wave and post punk and combine this with a splash of goth-pop and their own musical guilty pleasures The latter of these vary with Danny tending to like cheesy house music, U2's 'The Joshua Tree' and the chipmunks pitched down. Renee, however, being an '80s baby grew up with '80s music videos to which she enjoyed dancing along to and prefers Paula Abdul. Élan Vital have also embarked on a six-date tour around their home country to promote 'Shadow Self' which is their debut album. Although they only formed in 2015, it has been described by the trio as "a capsule in time from the early stages of the band's origin. An exploration of a dystopian future that never came to be, a soundtrack to a film that doesn't exist, equal parts per formative and yet personal". While only seven tracks long 'Shadow Self' is packed with strong material. Full of strong synths, it is also littered throughout with eccentric field recordings such as train noises and industrial sounds. There is also a healthy wedge of funky beats and also odd anthemic moment, making this album a treat to listen to. It also lets you go back too. Some albums have a tendency to shut the door on you after one listen but his keeps it wedged open for you to return to whenever you like. And you will. It's very addictive.