Moth

切なすぎるネオアコ・リバイバルが2012年を席捲する!日本デビューEPが即完売した男女ツイン・ボーカルのロンドン出身5人組、エックスラヴァーズが、満を持してアルバムを完成させた!!ホワイト・ライズのドラマー、ジャック・ブラウン主宰のレーベル＜Chess Club＞からデビュー・シングルをリリースし即完売。同レーベルからリリースした5曲入りEP「ユー・フォゲット・ソー・イーズリー」は、あの名腕スティーヴン・ストリート(ザ・スミス、ブラー)がプロデュースを手掛け、大きな話題となった。シューゲイジーな轟音ギターにキャッチーなメロディを散りばめた胸キュン・チューンがインターネットを中心にバズを巻き起こし、早耳リスナーを中心に話題に。その噂はすぐさま日本へも飛び火し、10年6月に日本独自編集盤としてEP「s.t.」をリリース。限定生産ながら即完売となり、ポテンシャルの高さを堂々と見せつけた。そんな彼らが、遂にデビュー・アルバムをリリース!ピーターの繊細な歌声と、ウィスパーボイスが魅力的なローレルのツイン・ボーカル、そしてアルペジオを多用した胸キュン・ギター・サウンドが駆け抜ける!リスナーのハートを鷲掴みにする究極のポップ・アルバムが今、ここに誕生する!

There has been sweat, touring, and toil for London dream poppers Exlovers as their debut album, Moth, comes together after three years of hard work. With a collection of singles to their name and 100 live shows in their first year of forming, the full release was sensibly held back, allowing the band to craft and mature their '90s indie rock-influenced sound. The entire album is executed at what seems to be a relentless pace, yet there is still a feeling of relative calm to the gritty basslines and often frantic guitars that are submerged in reverb. This is owing to the softly sung girl-boy vocals of Peter Scott and Laurel Sills that never give the impression of rising above a stage whisper throughout. It's this intimacy and refrain that make it easy to lose yourself in the bittersweet feeling that enfolds tracks such as "I Wish We'd Never Met" which, in turn, showcases their achingly beautiful harmonies. Without over-staging their vocals, the wistful melancholy filters through and songwriter Scott excels with lyrics that lean from introspective musings to lovelorn narratives that befit their melancholic name. It is clear that although they flirt with shoegazey guitars and '90s indie influences, their penchant for the kind of sunny melodies and memorable hooks that flow through "This Love Will Lead You On" and "You Forget So Easily" is where they feel most comfortable. Recorded at Rockfield Studios, Wales with Demian Castellanos and Jimmy Robertson (Florence + the Machine, Big Pink) Moth packs a noticeable punch compared to their earlier singles, with well-toured songs "You're So Quiet" and "Blowing Kisses" benefiting from a renewed energy that invigorates the album's more upbeat moments. Far from being a constant, full-blooded affair, Exlovers understand when to lower the pace and "Unloveable" does exactly that. The cathartic, slow burner starts with lazy, almost hypnotic guitars that gradually build into a wonderful crescendo of sound. Avoiding the comparisons with My Bloody Valentine, Pavement and Belle & Sebastian, or contemporaries Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Exlovers display their own strong characteristics here while reshaping and building their influences into a welcomed individuality. Even though it's been a long time in the making, Moth is a competent debut from a band striving to find their collective voice. ~ Scott Kerr|

ウハ～ッ、参った! こりゃ、イイと言わざるを得ないよな～。だってこのロンドンの若者たちは、90年代初頭をキラキラと彩ったシューゲイザーやネオアコの甘酸っぱい部分を、何の衒いもなくそのままリヴァイヴァルしてくれちゃっているんだもんよ～。目新しさなんてなくていいの! 青臭い疾走感も、夢見心地の浮遊感も、おセンチなメロディーも、淡い男女コーラスも全部ツボ! 好きだ、バカ!!
bounce (C)田中幹也