BELLEVILLE

 

Welcome to the world of Belleville. It’s a rich, multi-textured Narnian place awash with metaphor and symbolism.

According to the Canterbury based band’s The Promises EP, the landscape here is filled with places of happiness in the form of mountains, shores, “secret place[s]” and areas described simply as “acres of loveliness”. But there are also landmarks representing sadness and struggle: wildernesses, deserts and “darkest shadow[s]”

While such metaphors have all been used ever since there were mountains, shores and “acres of loveliness” available, there remains something ethereal and mystical about Belleville. The comparisons of other reviewers between this band and Sigur Ros are not without foundation.

The Icelandic band are famed for their songs sung in their home made language of Hopelandic. Belleville’s songs however, may remain resolutely Anglophonic, but that does not take away the sense of mystery found in their songs.

Either the three songs found on The Promises are a confused and rambling selection of well worn metaphors and analogies or they are well crafted pieces designed to probe deep truths. I really do hope it’s the latter.

Certainly lines about “This love will lead you out of darkness” (“The Storm”), “I’ll hear the voice before me/transcend into this beauty” (“All of the Promises I’ve Heard”) and “I’ll run the race to find you” in the acres of aforementioned “loveliness” suggest there may be a slightly higher purpose to the band’s songs.

Belleville’s music aims towards a haunting gentle indie-pop sound. Lead singer Emily Yates has a husky, hushed and breathy voice which recalls (like her or loathe her) Dido. In fact, the third track on the EP, “All of the Promises I’ve Heard” could easily morph into “Thank You” by Eminem’s one time partner in crime at a moment’s notice.

Throughout the EP a beautiful melange of keyboards, electric violin and prerequisite guitars swim around beneath. It’s most prominent at the end of “All the Promises…” where layer after layer of sound is piled on top of one another to form an incredible sonic collage.

The mixture of natural imagery, mystical themes and panoramic soundscapes makes Belleville a very tempting proposition for a chilled out night in.

Light some candles; put a bottle of white in the ice bucket. I’ll be round with a bottle of red and my thoughts on Jean-Paul Sartre’s Nausea in a minute.

 

11/04/2011 • The Promises EP Review

By Stephen Morris • Photos by

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