In a press kit, Avec le soleil sortant de sa bouche are defined as a Krautrock ensemble. The appellation might feel like an understatement at first, but the more their new album Pas pire pop, I Love You So Much unravels, the more it makes sense. Sure, this isn’t your parents’ Krautrock — meaning it’s not a respectful homage to the genre bearing all the benchmarks of a revivalist act. It’s more of an irreverent reinvention, tinted by diverse influences ranging from noise rock to experimental punk.
Composed of three suites with labyrinthine, Frenglish names, the album is hermetic at first, but it’s highly rewarding after a few listens. Full of sunny, upbeat guitars, Afrobeat drums and quirky keyboard patches, it manages to stay fun and engaging without becoming too self-aware.
In a way, Avec le soleil’s music could compare to a tropical forest: There’s a lot of stuff there, and sure, not everything seems crucial. But when the ecosystem works as well as it does on Pas pire pop, it’s worth taking the time to get lost in its dense flora of sounds.