The French Quarter – We Are Not French
Sometimes, as au reviewer, you get an album that you find really hard to write about. Not because it’s not good, simply because it defies easy description. ‘We Are Not French’ by The French Quarter is just such a record. What is it? There are moments of pure Post-Rock (‘Blue Light’), there are moments of classic Longview type Indieness (‘Hide’) and moments that I can only describe as Stadium Rock bombast (‘Time To Leave’), but in a good way.
Whatever it is, it is a hugely accomplished debut and it’s completely brilliant.
Produced by influential Scottish desk man Andy Miller (Mogwai, Arab Strap etc) the record has a lush, deep and dreamy feel to it. The tracks seem to slide through each other yet each retains its own individual character. The band have an instinctive grasp of melody and song structurethat is simultaneously catchy and magnificent.
These guys are unsigned and ‘We Are Not French’ is self-released. I can only assume this is a conscious decision on the part of the band as tracks like the wonderfully yearning ‘Hide’ and the aforementioned closing track, the hugely epic ‘Time To Leave’ are as good as anything I’ve heard on a proper label this year.
If this EP is an accurate yardstick by which to judge this band then The French Quarter are ones to watch for next year, because if there’s any justice they’re going to be massive.
Top Tracks: ‘Time To Leave’, ‘Hide’.
