Band : Jucifer

Album Title : L'Autrichienne

Label : Relapse

Distributor : Rough Trade Records

Release Date : 19/03/2008

Review : CD

Like the previous Juicfer "If Thine Enemy Hunger" it branches out into other musical territories, yet remains distinctly Jucifer.

Jucifer's wide range of different but compatible-sounding styles and great execution make them a really strong duo. Elements of grunge, sludge, stoner, americana , hardcore, doom, punk, indie -rock, psych, and just about everything else manages to creep into the drummer Edgar Livengood and guitarist/vocalist Amber Valentine's musical palette.

L'Autrichienne is a concept album full of rich melody and smart compositions that never fall victim to the 3–chord sounds of many of today's mainstream rock groups. The songwriting on this disc is a mixed bag. The twenty-one tracks provide a wealth of musical gems. Yes, there are a few songs on L'Autrichienne I felt were a little too bland and repetitive but there's enough inventiveness. So more sensual songs (the titletrack and “fleur de lis ”) alternate with heavier chaotic Melt Banana -like ones (“ Thermidor ” and “Armada”) and slow   plodding ones (“The mountain” and “Procession of a guillotine”) “October” is more lush and haunting where these two shift into a more meditative mood with its dreamy, ambient quality. While some of Amber's vocals are sometimes a bit too honeysweet for my liking, her clean, poppy vocals generally suit the lyrics and instrumental backdrops nicely.

If you haven't heard this band yet, now is the time to invest in discovering them.

89/100

Cosmicmasseur.