Languis : The four walls (Plug Research)

You can just imagine the label meeting at Plug Research. "We usually do warped hiphop and electronica stylings, but we're gonna put this album out because it's just so damn good". Don't know if this is how it really went down. Regardless, we owe Plug Research a debt of gratitude for putting out this wonderful second album by the two Argentinian musicians Marcos Chloca and Alejandro Cohen, aka Languis.

Take the beautiful melancholic joy of New Order, the relaxed down-to-earth numbing pop sensibilities of Sea and Cake, the emotional sensitivity of Notwist and the weightlessness of Guitar's Sunkissed album. You will get a slight gleem of the pot-pourri of feeling and soul that is the music of Languis.

You will find yourself wondering what is electronic and what is acoustic in the Languis soundscapes. Most instruments are processed through filters and most synths are made to sound immaculately organic, creating a crisp wall of static-infused drums, echoing guitars and perfect layers of keys ans synths. Languis cement it all with a strong adherence to melodies, crafting beautiful songs each with it's own strong personality.

The absolute high point is Constellations, where a wonderful introductory melody fused with cringeing static feeds into crashing rounds of well-contained noisy overfeed drums and a single synth suite. In the space of one song, Languis manage to take on several new points of reference, from My Bloody Valentine and the Cure to the lighter side of a Washing Machine-era Sonic Youth. And it's light, so incredibly light... this is my soundtrack to summer breezes in open fields.

A simple thought borrows most from New Order, creating an airy melody best associated with a drive down a Danish highway under an overcast sky, the wind slipping in through the open window and blowing the treetops from side to side. Go to the Roskilde Festival in Denmark and listen to this.. it will put it all in context... and listen to Side of the road as well, a wonderful example of positive shoegazer pop. Didn't know there was such a thing...

Morningside draws thought towards the organs on The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour era. The slight 60s connection is also explained Ubiquity Records artist Nobody appears with extra samples and keys. Remember his sublime rendition of the Monkees' Porpoise song on the Rewind 3 compilation -that's the music Beta Band wish they could still make. Even when you sleep has a wonderful interaction between synths and flute and The Turning Point is a wonderful string soundscape fit for a David Lynch movie.

The Four Walls does slightly peter out towards the end and goes a little too harpsichord-Julee Cruise on us, but this takes nothing away from the thoroughly great experience of the album. Languis condense a subtle mixture of the cream of indie and pop acts that you should -and probably do- love to create their own inimitable atmosphere of satisfyingly catchy and moving melodies.

The Four Walls is an album with an inimitable dreamy and timeless quality. It's a fusion and an evolution. Most of all it's pure emotion. It is simply beautiful post-pop.

Review by Nicolai Hartvig

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