Released: 13/07/09

The album starts with a mountainous choir and then a simple beat starts at a trot. Cue The Postal Service style indie voice. Then an electro mix places all the components on a roundabout and gives them a mighty spin. What we get with Un is a sophisticated and uplifting modern sound.

London born, Paris based former indie front man Dan Black, uses samples and beats as opposed to guitars, making for a flamboyant, assorted sound. The Daft Punk sharp styled electro, decidedly French, mixes surprisingly beautifully with his indie twanged voice. Lyrically, Black articulates the difficulties and melancholy of modern life as well as the excitement.

With I Love Life we get a more hardcore, mild dubstep sound, invigorating the listener. Black it appears is keen to promote the embracing of individuality and the liberation from bored capitalism with these lyrics, fighting sounds and artwork. Embracing contemporary art, French influences can clearly be seen with the album sleeve and every page corresponds with a song. Designed by Black, it features monochrome mixed with bright colours, pills coming out of Monsieur Black’s mouth, giant guns shooting rabbits and a pie chart with a key of Life, Dreams and Between, all at 33%; all stimulating self-reflection.

This pleasant album offers a cathartic escape from modern concerns and introspection, as well as a merry little shot high in the sky via electric wings. With a final track Let Go, Dan Black clearly hopes you will have.

www.danblacksound.com

Helen Martin