| CD REVIEW Moleskin |
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Band : Moleskin The foundation of this Paris (France) based band were founded in June 2002, when drummer Arnaud (no family name cited) answers an add by singer/ guitarist/ occasional harmonica player Julien Babin. They start jamming, plot out the musical course the band will be taking, chosing to go for the English language as they mostly listen to English and American bands, and compose their first song "Virgin Mary". In November 2003 the duo find the fitting bassist in the form of one Loic Monpontet, and also they name their band for a term of imitation leather. Moleskin is born. But the band is still looking to make a bigger sound, so they have some auditions for an additional guitarist. Julien strikes a chord with the founding trio after only two sessions, mainly because he also writes lyrics and is willing to study harmony and rhythm guitar in order to get ready for the recording of the band's first 5-track demo Dock-Exit Road in October of the same year. With the demo still in the making, the foursome erects its website (www.) moleskin.fr, and plays its first gigs in April 2005. After the demo's release the guys get a chance to do a short Slovenian tour (5 dates) in September, and in October they're invited to lay at Batofar, a festival for Slovenian bands...in Paris. Towards the end of the year the band also starts playing its first non Paris basedFrench gigs. In 2006 the band continues its live adventures, taking in some more festivals (among which Brussels' Eu'Ritmix in August)...and then in September Arnaud leaves. Apparently not an unexpected event, as he's swiftly replaced by new skin basher Thibaut Paschet...whom is already ready to record the band's debut mini-album Generator in November. The record is self-released in January 2007, and after some more rehearsals the band starts its live promotion in March. Eventually the album gets a new lease on life, as it is re-released with a wider distribution through Great Dane Records in September of the same year. Meanwhile the band is making small waves withing the French scene, making a live session on French radio Rockenfolie (Haut Savoie region). After a 2nd Belgian gig in April 2008, live activities are ceased for a couple of months...and it's my guess that's when guitarist Julien was exchanged for David "DevilDave" Vincent (hey, the guys didn't bother to mention when exactly the new guitarist joined, you know, so why not make this wild guess?). They still did a gig in September, and were guests on a couple of radio stations in October, but after that all live activities were completely ceased, the band concentrating on the writing process of their full-length debut...which was eventually recorded between June and September 2009 (oh...and don't think for a second that I didn't consider the possibility of Vincent's joining of the band during this period, okay!?). The band started the promotion of their new material quite early, posting a first song off the album on their MySpace page in early December of last year. Then, in May of 2010, they make the complete CD available for free download to all their facebook friends. I guess the boys got in contact with the people at Domino after that. So, how about let's talk some music? In their own words, Moleskin plays a Hard Rock that is the “...love child of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, and cousin to Queens Of The Stone Age, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam families...” Big shoes to fill? Perhaps, but additionally citing influences from the likes of The Beatles, Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Poison, The Cure, Aerosmith, Dream Theater, U2, and Audioslave (anyone getting dizzy yet?) the guys don't do it half that bad! In fact, when you listen to the 3 songs posted at myspace.com/moleskinfrance, you'll probably agree to the instrumental side of their music falling into the category of quite outstanding music (pity they didn't also post the rather acoustic sounding album closing instrumental “Evergreen”). Are you feeling a “but” coming up? Well...of course you're right! The thing is, in spite of their love for English-sung music, the guys never managed to master the language, and as a result a nasty French accent comes through in Babin's vocals all too often! In other words: these guys mày make some waves in the local scene, maybe even break out into other French speaking territories (that, luckily, also includes a part of Canada), but whether they'll ever become popular enough to make the charts, remains doubtful. Pity...because their music IS cool...which is why the album still gets a nice rating of 84/100 Tony. |
