Spiralling, teasing, shuddering and finally comforting, North Walian duo Half Avian‘s ‘Parisian Rain’ is a synth-pop tune of imperious, haunting quality. Lifted from the ‘Now we are the same (MINI EP)’ which was released at the tail end of last year. It’s ushered in on a wondrous carousel of synth notes that blink like the neon lights that decorate the cities night time skyline. You could be forgiven for thinking these undulating modernistic synth sweeps were the property of M83 or early OMD, infused with emotive, catchy vocal couplets that are reminiscent of the Postal Service.But each note is possessed with an eye for detail, each vocal quivering with an existential sensitivity and compassion that’s resolutely theirs. Parisian Rain could easily soundtrack that moment in the film(say Lost in Translation) when the lead character stares out into the mid distance, tears rolling down their face and asks the big questions like ‘why is life is just so difficult, sometimes?’
“Now we are the same/ We are going to change” this repeated refrain is more like a enveloping calming, hypnotising mantra. An appreciation of pain, loss and the difficulty of human relationships, exists not just in the words but in the space between these tumbling notes, twitching beats and cascading samples. Growing into an awesome electro crescendo that’s the aural equivalent of the moment the switch is flicked on the hundreds of multi coloured lights that illuminate seaside lights. Epic.
