Valerie Renay – Your Own Shadow (Digital Album – Valerie Renay)
Genre/Influences: Electro-pop, experimental.
Background/Info: The French-Caribbean artist Valerie Renay is based in Berlin. She’s mainly known as one of the members from Noblesse Oblige. This debut solo-work seems to have exorcised private demons and has been introduced by Valerie as ‘the desire to explore my own limits and share intimate sensations’.
Content: The work is different with Noblesse Oblige, but the fans of the band will of course recognize the artist. Her work is characterized by slow rhythms, wafting electronics joined by guitar and Valerie’s sensual timbre of voice. But I have to say that the darkest passages of the album she sometimes remind me to Siouxsie Sioux. Most of the songs are sung in English, but there are also French lyrical parts.
+ + + : I especially like the sensuality running through this work, which has something wafting and elevating. The songs also reveal a delicate writing, which especially comes through at “Sailor”. In a somewhat harder genre I recommend “Rough & Ready”
– – – : The last song of the album is not my favorite and even creates a kind of anti-climax. The absolute climax is however missing at this album.
Conclusion: I can’t say I totally enjoyed this debut work although Valerie Renay released a very personal, intimate and interesting work featuring a few noticeable and refined songs.
Best songs: “Sailor”, “Rough & Ready”, “Hollow”.
Rate: (7).
Artist: www.facebook.com/FemmeFacade
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