The French band 1984 strikes a universal chord on its latest EP, “Night Phases”. Etienne Nicolini, Kevin Matz, and Thomas Figenwald released a feverish and infectious long-player titled “Influenza” in 2013 and now they’ve gone the opposite route, cooling down on the contemplative, but still dynamic and passionate “Night Phases” EP. The 7 indie-pop/rock songs (6 plus a bonus track) are sung in English by Etienne with an expressive, sing-talking, slightly accented intonation. At times he’s bolstered by supporting vocals from his bandmates, like on the propulsive “Body Torsion”.
On opener “Make Me Out”, the ‘pop song’ of the EP, he’s complimented by guest vocals from Camille François. It’s smoothly tuneful, yet restless, with gliding guitars, a soft drum beat, and Etienne bringing his emotional vulnerability to the surface. His voice drops in register at the ends of his short phrases, lending a melancholy turn to the words “You can’t make me out. / The noises outside / don’t reflect how / it’s silent inside.”
The slower-paced, spare “Heavy Sleep” features Nina Kazourian on viola and wiry reverb guitar notes that wind its way around Etienne’s hopeful vocals as he sings “…like a kid protected / safe in your hands.” The tempo lifts up with a marching beat, bright synth sounds, and Etienne’s urgent vocal tones.
The low-key, lyrics-centric “Curtains on our Nights” is piano and vocals-based; an introspective number that doesn’t come off lightweight due to Etienne’s exclaimed vocals, where he sharply pushes and draws out his words “I’m on my way to you.” with a Jeff Buckley-like, on-the-emotional-brink intonation.
The title of the “Torpor” is a misnomer because it roils grandly with agitated guitar lines, an up-tempo pace, and Etienne proclaiming “Nobody’s going to wake me” against a fiery rock guitar break. The fire dies down for the last two tracks which utilize picked acoustic guitar and bare, upfront vocals. Mournful cello lines from Marc-Antoine Schmitt and rambling, lightly-picked guitar materialize on “Thin”, as Etienne lilts into a higher register, extending his forlorn sighs of “Help me to renew.”
