Poésie Noire – Tabula Rasa (The '91 Remixes)

If, like me, you had never heard of these, then you might just be in for one Hell of a pleasant surprise.
On only the second listen, most of this album was already familiar - it's full of hooky, catchy pop songs in, as far as I can hear, their own unique style (although I will try to make comparisons later). The sound is full, well-developed, incandescence-colourful, and in no way bland or repetitive, despite being (in the majority) dance music. They've fleshed themselves out a sound which I for one will always turn my ear towards. A well-picked track - "Always Like This (Vow Of Silence)", "Andy Would Have Liked" - might do well in the British National charts with enough muscle to push it through the dross that usually lingers in such places - it's music to listen or dance to, as the mood & situation takes you. And the vocals, by Jo, and later on by Evanna are full of brilliance & strength, helped along by a bunch of really muscular songs, some of which ("Ocean Of Tears" "Andy Would Have Liked") you find yourself singing along to.

I've racked my mind for someone to compare them to & have come up with some really varied artists, none of whom are close enough for a direct comparison. Take away the ethereal drapes from the COCTEAU TWINS' "Blue Bell Knoll" album (I mean this in a musical sense - POESIE NOIRE's vocalists are world's apart from LIZ FRASER) and this may not be dissimilar. They do a cover version of THE THE's "Uncertain Smile" which is one of the weaker tracks on this album, choosing to tackle it the way DANCE NAKED tackled "Venus In Furs" - fast 'n' furious. This similarity gives me three convenient comparisons - POESIE NOIRE are not a thousand miles from THE THE's 1st album, and are not dissimilar to DANCE NAKED's fiery 'n' physical body-pop, and as I moved out of the room to fetch a drink (this reviewing lark can be thirsty work), certain parts reminded me, strangely enough, of LOU REED's "New York" album (some of the guitar work, not actually the overall sound, it must be said).

The closest possible comparison I can think of is if ATTRITION decided to go commercial & aimed for the fake heart of the pop charts with an energetic, mainly dance album, with a full, vivid spectrum of sounds & barb-hooked songs - I think they'd sound not unlike this.

This is a brilliant album of remixes & rerecordings. That I had never before heard of them is a crime in itself - I'll be carrying the POESIE NOIRE banner in future. With over an hour of neon music - this is a bright, beautiful and dare I say it - classic - album.

Originally reviewed for Soft Watch.