Copernic#

Self-produced album "24 lights", COPERNIC# (Label: La Colline Prod., France) 10 tracks


Copernic#, the electro-shock.

After a first album in 2007 released on the label LaTour Records (USA), the duet Copernic# evolved. Where the first opus was rather calm and flying, the second is definitively a thumb to your nose to ambiant electronica. Regina and Yann have now surrounded themselves with two new musicians: Nico on the drums and Arnaud on the bass, which contributed to a beautiful musical evolution. It is thus to four that they present “24 lights" to us.

What to say?

It is very neat, very square, the ten tracks are followed but do not resemble, each one has its own environment, its personality. The atmosphere is sometimes hot and warm (Almost in trance), sometimes light and spicy (Bond girl), electric on “Sweet love”, or nostalgic on “The beauty”, sublime piece. On “The wizard”, there is a nice mix of guitar in the Mogwai style with vocals like in Sigur Ros which makes this track absolutely magical and attractive.

What other to say?

The vocals are tremendously controlled, sometimes sensual, smooth, sometimes flying (“Welcome to Minea” - Reginas vocals together with Arnauds - is brilliant!), the basses, the guitar and the drums are answering one another, crossing in a coherent and homogeneous unit. It is imposing!

Lastly, on stage, the impression which emerges of the band is the one of four giants who impose respect. It is classy and haunting. A good advice to all of you: run to see them play live!

To finish, I would say that Copernic# passed the course of the second album successfully because they managed to renew themselves while keeping their own influences and their identity (the band is now back to self-production): “24 lights” is announced already as being one of the best Cds of 2009 at the local level.


Christelle Gers
http://www.lamplificateur.com/

- French webzine l'Amplificateur

Copernic# - "24 Lights"

This is – to my ears – a very strong Pop album. It takes its lead from trip-hop but the intoxicant fuelling it is more likely sex than skunk. This is a gorgeous album for a day in bed without the curtains opening. It is in places steeped in seduction, fantasy and romantic love. The band are French but sing (flawlessly) in English which throws up the odd unusual lyric. “Cherry me” singer Regina sings on Sweet Love – well, I can guess what it means but I never heard it put like that. I assume the meaning is similar to Like A Virgin. The lyrics overall are slight but work in the song settings, the vocals are conversational but marvellously strong. The lack of vocal trills and embellishment is welcome and helps keep the mood throughout.
Album midpoint The Beauty is a romantic dream, musically minimal, yearning for the ideal of love – it finishes with a storm of longing. My Wizard (the temptation to mention wands and wizards sleeves here is almost impossible) is more fantasy and works much better than the earlier Bond Girl, the weakest track. The vocals are so fine and prominent that it is easy to forget the importance of the band (including Regina’s bass) but the music is excellent and underplayed giving the vocals the very best setting. Despite this being a dark Pop album it has minimal but excellent guitar, which lashes when it needs to and restrained keys and drums. Some songs make love; some – like the dark Love Etc – are about fucking. Although that one finds the band at their dirtiest the lyric suggests Regina wants release from a failing relationship – the “tell me what you want now, tell me that you want me” sound sexy AND desperate. It also has guitar like David Rhodes of Random Hold/Peter Gabriel band. The album ends with the morphine requiem Welcome To Minea a feminine reflection of a Doors like sensuality. A perfect finale.

By: The Indie Dad | 7.5/10 [Sic] magazine - March 31, 2009
- http://www.sicmagazine.net/