Album Review: Superpoze - Opening

In this prolonged Easter week-end, one of the most surprising eggs comes in the shape of an 8-track LP entitled Opening by the French producer Superpoze. The album has been released today via Superpoze's own label Combien Mille Records. Even though his music is known since 2012 in France, we haven't talked much about him here on the Fox. But if you follow him, you may have spotted our post about his side-project, Kuage.

After 3 years of activity on the music scene and almost as many years touring across the globe, Opening is (only) Superpoze's debut album. If it may seems quite short at first glance, it is nonetheless surprisingly - and hauntingly - generous by the quality of the sound. It sounds carefully thought through and mature. With Opening, Superpoze drifts a little bit away from instrumental hip hop and mechanical beats to lure towards melodic arrangements and organic instruments, such as the piano or strings.

If Opening has been partly thought on the road, the result gives way to "journey-album": close your eyes, open you ears widely and let your mind drives you...

The album opens on the eponymous track "Opening", it is an introduction led by buzzy beats, percussions and a light piano melody going crescendo. The statement is done: this will be a record of contrast, where the dark hues of the artwork turns into a shiny texture and a brilliant sound. Speaking of dark places, let's drive up "North", where icebergs are clashing in the cold seas and mermaids whisper mesmerizing chants. Yet it's no time to let the ship drift, so let the soothing piano notes guides you ashore. Once you've reached the earth, a Dolorean awaits you to take you on a "Time Travel" where Renaissance epic melodies meets future beats and binary machines. As the pace slows down, it's now time to get on the ship again and travel "Overseas". It leads you on a melancholic track. On the way, it may sound a bit tragic, due to haunting voices, steady percussions going crescendo and a blast of analog beats. The piano acts as a central theme in the record and eases up the sometimes-heavy atmosphere.

"Unlive" opens on a hazy tone where tennis rebounds field-recording echoes distantly - reminding me of Flying Lotus' "Table Tennis". Both tracks share this cosmic sound: "Unlive" is atmospheric, light and dark at the same time; making you hover over time and space. Whereas "Ten Lakes" dives you into clearer waters. It's the most club-oriented track of the album, with some Shigeto-esque elements - needless to say it's one of my favorite.

"Movement" emerges as a piano-only interlude. As I close my eyes, I can't help but picture a music box, where a cute figurine would draw circles in pace with the melody. "Movement" induces a trajectory towards familiar places, leading naturally to "Home Is Where I Am". If the record sounds very personal, this closing track appears as the most heart-to-heart track. It's a hold to the familiar and as the same time an opening towards unknown territories.

We can only wish him to make himself at home everywhere on this wide world, then.