Grimes, Visions
15 March 2012
Montreal’s Claire Boucher, aka Grimes, released her third album, Visions, via British indie stalwarts 4AD on Monday. It’s a small leap forward from previous albums Geidi Primes (No Pain In Pop) and Halfaxa (Lo Recordings), her kittenish vocals embellished by much sharper electronic production than before. However, a bit more Enya than The Cocteau Twins, her hippyish, Eighties style (with its enduring scent of patchouli), albeit at odds with her other-worldly image, will probably hinder the foxy Canadian from finding the kind of audience she may be craving for the time being. Grimes’ vox are rarely that far away from Liz Fraser’s own, ethereal delivery on the Twins’ classic 4AD output, though, and the reference point makes sense of this surprise signing, seeing the label thus come full circle with its own heritage.
First ‘single’ Genesis is a bit of a killer, with its echoing vocal gymnastics and hooky, Oriental melodies. But Oblivion‘s heavier bass, deft electro beat, eddying keys and Fairlight CMI-style/Eighties samples (think Art Of Noise) will no doubt experience greater, anthemic pop longevity.
