The West Is The Best

Since forming in 2011, French combo Dead Horse One have amassed a tidy catalog of LPs, EPs, and scattered compilation appearances, all bearing a pretty consistent merging of shoegaze and dream pop disciplines. Hailing from the southern French city of Valence, the quartet is clearly rooted in the school of 90s forebears like My Bloody Valentine, Swervedriver, and Ride. In fact, Ride frontman Mark Gardener was an early champion of the band and produced their 2014 debut. Dead Horse One also developed a relationship with American producer John Loring, of the California shoegaze band Fleeting Joys. Loring, whose hazy stamp was evident on 2016s Season of Mist, returns to the producers chair on the groups third full-length, The West Is the Best. A familiar outgrowth of their two previous albums, Dead Horse One know their way around a wistful, melancholic melody and ably provide the evocative framework of their chosen genres. The hushed vocals, which are shared by bassist Ludovic Naud and guitarist Olivier Debart, are generally buried deep into the mix of textural guitar squalls and keyboards that traverse the entire album. The influence of mid-80s Echo & the Bunnymen and the Cure can be heard, particularly on the mercurial Saudade, which is assisted by guest vocalist Rorika Loring, wife and bandmate of producer John. Another highlight, Gaze, is imbued with a gentle jangle pop feel and provides a respite from the heavy slam of distorted guitars that covers much of the set. Theres enough tonal variance within the songs to provide some welcome dynamics amid the bands classic shoegaze sound. ~ Timothy Monger