Maston - Souvenir - LP

In 2018, composer/producer Frank Maston was living in Paris, working on new music when he was introduced to Geneva based band L’Eclair. Blown away by what he heard, there seemed to be a mutual understanding and appreciation for that loungey, groovy world of library and soundtrack music from the seventies. An immediate thought occurred to him - what if he could record with this simpatico group backing him up? The result is the colourful and kinetic album Souvenir. Maston's earlier works 'Shadows' (2013) and 'Tulips (2017) have garnered comparisons to some of the most acclaimed composers, including Ennio Morricone, Sven Libaek, & Piero Umiliani. His earlier works have been released on KPM and Be With Records, while he has collaborated and toured with artists such as Allah Las, PAINT, and Altin Gün. To fulfil his vision for a lively, full-band effort on Souvenir, Maston enlisted L’Eclair, the young quintet from Geneva, Switzerland, whose first two albums, Polymood and Sauropoda had gained them high praise in Europe’s underground circles for their air tight grooves and wise-beyond-their-years chops. Album standout “Ghost” is a classic prog-pop stomp, built around a pulsing rhythm section, bouncy organ, and Maston’s lilting vocals. He invites you to take another dose and disappear- “Your chance ain’t comin’ around again for a million years”- he sings, and we believe him. On the ballad “Do You Feel It Working” Frank repeats the title, which serves as a personal mantra. As this meditation slowly builds, we see L’Eclair shine as they strike a perfect balance- complimenting Maston’s vocals, while holding down the groove and bubbling up at just the right moments. “Swiss Franc” is a slow motion dark disco dirgeoozing uneasy harpsichord until the clouds part for the euphoric chorus, only to slide back down in time for the bass synth to drop. It’s a pensive closer to a dynamic and colourful record, covering a lot of ground stylistically while staying f ocused sonically. On Souvenir, spontaneity leads the way. You have to respect a musician willing to leave his comfort zone and try something new. The result is an album as unpredictable as it is flawlessly executed, a delightful and deliriously joyous new project born from an ambitious idea, pursued to perfection. For fans of: Allah-Las, Tame Impala, Drugdealer, Toro y Moi, Van Dyke Parks, Ennio Morricone, Kurt Vile, Mac Demarco, CAN, Air.

Side A :
L'Eau Bleue / Les Monstres / Do You Feel It Working? / Souvenir

Side B :
Ghost / Café Collonge / The Doors Are Opening / Swiss Franc