Atmospheric French band Esthesis showcases adventurous melodies and deep respect for the likes of Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd and The Pineapple Thief on its cinematic third album, Out of Step. Drenched in keyboards, serrated guitars and Aurélien Goude’s ethereal vocals, opening track “Connection” sets the tone for the rest of this album. Highlights include “The Frame,” which blends slow-danceable grooves with Goude’s expressive vocals, a hazy backdrop and a nearly flawless guitar solo (think George Michael fronting Riverside), and “The Storm,” an 11-minute sonic tsunami that goes from mild to harsh to hypnotic. “Fractured #1” and “Fractured #2,” brief and ominous instrumentals that last less than 90 seconds, divide this nine-song album into distinct thirds. But the overall impact is most effective, reinforcing the belief that Out of Step is meant to be played from start to finish, without interruption.
The band refers to its own sound as post-progressive and alternative, with industrial and post-rock elements. But those terms mean little compared to the vibe a record like this one creates. And Esthesis definitely has a vibe. After all, the band’s name means “sensation.”
Track Listing:
1. Connection
2. The Frame
3. Fractured #1
4. Out of Step
5. City Lights
6. Fractured #2
7. Circus
8. The Storm
9. Abyss (bonus track)
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