People On Sunday

Domenique Dumonts first two records were hazy, sometimes whimsical fusions of French pop, exotica, Balearic beat, and library music, filled with skittering drum machines and echo-disguised vocals as well as dubby effects and swaying guitars. Initially credited as a trio consisting of two Latvian musicians and a possibly fictional French artist, Dumont was referred to as a single individual by the time People on Sunday was released in 2020. Entirely instrumental, the album was composed as a soundtrack to the 1930 silent film Menschen am Sonntag, which portrayed daily life in Berlin between World War I and II. Definitely not as beachy or poppy as earlier Dumont recordings, the soundtrack is nevertheless full of wonder, with a childlike innocence reflected in the song titles as well as the curious melodies. While it doesnt incorporate long stretches of field recordings, it sometimes approaches the nostalgic aura of Ernest Hoods Neighborhoods, although this album feels quite a bit trippier and more ethereal. Sunshine in 1929 is a very Roedelius-esque cosmic lullaby with gentle, theremin-like effects and surprising but pleasant bass swerves. Water Theme (Le Chateau de Corail) is a blissful accompaniment to an afternoon spent adrift on the waves. Most sublime of all is People on Sunday, a poignant rush of glittering melodies, delicate beats, and flute-like trills. Rituals is perfect for lying in a meadow alone, staring up at a glimmering canopy of stars. Even during moments like these, the album never feels dark, lonesome, or haunting. Instead, it generally seems to express a sincere fascination with the world, conveying the sense that theres always something to marvel at or appreciate during ones everyday life. ~ Paul Simpson