Domesticated

After the release of 2014s Brazilian fantasy LAventura, Sebastien Tellier took some time to compose music for films and work with Dita von Teese on her cleverly sexy self-titled debut album. And, after years of living it up, he also discovered the joys of settling down into a stable family life and routine. On Domesticated, Telliers music follows suit as he turns his gaze to everyday life at home (he reportedly got the idea for the album while admiring the contours of his toaster). This kind of playful exploration of a theme is nothing new for him, as albums like Politics and Sexuality attest. This time, however, his wit is more subtle. Rather than bright and cheery or cozy and homey, Domesticateds music is as alluring as any of his previous work. A Ballet -- a play on words with the French term for broom (balai) -- is soft and lush, drifting off on clouds of synths and velvety saxophone. Stuck in a Summer Love is a standout, with a rippling melody and wistful atmosphere that reaffirms Telliers flair for evocative synth pop. Domesticated is often more restrained than his earlier albums, but when Tellier balances the energy of the home with the energy of the club, it shines. He busts out tight, 80s-indebted beats on Hazy Feelings and sets off an explosion in a synth factory on Domestic Tasks. On Venezia, a funky track complete with squiggly electro synths and built-in applause for its breakdowns, hes a living room DJ. Domesticated is a low-key album by Telliers standards, but it captures the feeling that settling down is something to be savored, and its got to be the most glamorous-sounding album about home sweet home. ~ Heather Phares