Lazare is something of a local supergroup-cum-side-project based around the songwriting of the improbably named 2F. I must confess to never having heard of Arsen, 2F’s former group, but the record also features the instrumental prowess of Charlie Coombes and Nigel Powell, all recorded and produced by George Shilling at Bank Cottage Studios. So, a fine lineup and all the potential for a great record, but is it any good?
Well, yes. But…
It’s been nagging me for a while now, which is why it’s taken some time to get this review up on the site. I can’t find any fault in the EP, which comprises a small selection of songs taken from full album ‘The Red Empire’, but I also can’t quite get excited about it. Everything is immaculately played, richly orchestrated and put together with great care and attention. There’s no rough edges and whilst the sound isn’t quite as rich as they might have hoped (possibly caused by the MP3 rip), it’s a pretty damn good production.
2F’s voice leans in a similar David Bowie/Brett Anderson-inflected direction to that of Joe Swarbrick of Borderville fame, which in itself may divide a few opinions. In fact a lot of the material has a somewhat similar feel to Borderville, albeit a more indie pop sound, more restrained and less swamped in knowingly trashy theatrics. There’s an edge to lines like “I’m a thrill, and you’re a whore, we will never kiss, only down on the floor” (from ‘Fallen Star’), but in the main the focus is a little more sentimental and introspective. You can hear the perkiness of the Wannadies in there (‘Albion’ and the opening title track), a good dose of late 90’s/early Noughties Brit Pop a la Suede & co, a hint of Supergrass (as is to be expected, given the links). It all sits very happily in that company.
The only problem is that for all its promise it just falls a little short of the mark. I like to compare the accompanying press release with my own feelings about a record, and I usually find the bluster and grandstanding contained therein bears little or no relation to what I’ve just heard. It’s very much the case here. A trip between dreams and reality? Maybe for 2F, but not so much for the listener. A strange and cinematic landscape? Mmm, it’s a reasonably cinematic sound, granted, but strange? No. A unique ambience? Let’s move on…
I fear somewhat for 2F, out on a solo tour at the moment trying to reproduce this on his own, because I’m not convinced the songwriting will hold up without the lavish instrumentation. Lazare are by no means an average, stock band but equally there’s nothing desperately groundbreaking or exceptional here, just good, well crafted pop songs played and produced well. It has that air of familiarity which makes it an easy and enjoyable listen, but from which you’ll quickly move on without too much fuss or attachment. There are more challenging bands out there pushing the boundaries of this particular field, but Lazare are a fine example of a band comfortable in their surroundings.