KOU // KOU LP

This is the debut record released by French avant-folk duo KOU in November 2023.

Contains 14 highly addictive avant-folk to ambient folk songs that unfold in a surreal worldview.

*If you would like a digital sound source, please feel free to contact us.

Below is a commentary by the label.

"Apolline and Thomas have been playing with 2022 electronic harmoniums under the name KOU since 24, creating dense tones and layers of harmonics. For their debut album, KOU takes a different direction. The harmonium makes an occasional appearance, but what's more noticeable are delicate guitar plucks, distant vocal effects, synths, flutes, piano strokes, musical magic, andApolline's jazz vocals, not just jazz.

As soon as the needle drops, it's obvious that there will be a jump cut to the other side of the mirror.Cats meow, women sing sleepily, drum machines stutter and warp, and Alvin Lucier isn't "sitting in the same room he's in."If you're already confused, join the club.He's as confused as he was the first time he heard the Faust Tapes or saw Inland Empire for the first time.As the pigeons chirp and the tape machine clangs, a gorgeously eccentric version of Roger & Hart's Blue Moon emerges, reminding us that this is no mere Dada extravagance.Side two draws us deeper into the quagmire, with melancholy detuned brass, stoned Joan La Barbara-esque vocals, and a droning Farfisa anthem.I understand some of the quotes.Early Battiato, Piero Renaire's "Gudran", Lucia Bosse and Gregorio Paniagua's "Io Pomodoro", etc. There's also a strong whiff of 2's playful surrealism: Bongwater, Siltbreeze, Royal Trux's Twin infinitives, the distressed folk side of Alastair Galbraith, Half-Japanese, and early Beck.

Like a strange group of friends who meet by chance and end up staying together for days, the spirit behind this deliciously strange music is to make you stay in their strange subcultural world for a while. forgive.You may not want to live here forever, but your brain will be reborn for the better during your short trip. "

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12" black vinyl. Ask us for digital files.

Tracklist:

1. Thank you 00:14
2. La Tempesta 02:42
3. Biquetto Flûte 01:27
4. Gartenschläfer 03:12
5. I Am Not Sitting In A Room 05:34
6. Blue Moon 04:16
7. Kedith Shea 01:40
8. Le Da Loro Tutto 01:18
9. La Lumaca 02:24
10. Debut 06:53
11. Il Vento 02:29
12. King Of Detachement 04:44
13. Il Bagno 03:54
14. Spinett 01:12

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Aguirre:

"Apolline & Thomas have been performing since 2022 under the KOU guise with 24 electronic harmoniums. Producing dense layers of tones & overtones. On their debut album KOU steers in another direction. The harmonium appears occasionally, but more prominent are delicate guitar pluckings, distant vocal effects, synths, flutes, piano strokes, a touch of musical magic and Apolline's jazz not jazz vocals.

As soon as the needle drops it's clear we are jump-cutting straight to the other side of the mirror. Cats purr, a woman sings as if asleep, drum machines stutter and warp and Alvin Lucier is not 'sitting in a room that is not different to the one you are not in now'. If you're already confused, join the club. But, it's the good kind of confused, a bewildering experience akin to the first time hearing the Faust Tapes or watching Inland Empire. Wait though , as pigeons coo and the tape machine clunk-clicks a gorgeous weirdo version of Roger's and Hart's Blue Moon emerges to let you know this isn't just dada splurge, there's a genius pop sensibility at work here too. Side two takes us further into the murk with mournful detuned brass, stoned Joan La Barbara-esque vocalese and a droning Farfisa hymn, before ending with another too-tempting snatch of DIY pop. Some of the references are recognisable. All kinds of 70s/80s European art prog - think early Battiato, Pierot Lunaire's Gudrun, Lucia Bosè and Gregorio Paniagua's Io Pomodoro etc etc. There's a strong whiff of 90s us goof-off surrealism too- Bongwater, Siltbreeze, Royal Trux's Twin infinitives, the damaged folkier side of Alastair Galbraith, Half-Japanese, early Beck even all feel relevant.

Like an oddball group of friends you might meet by chance and end up weirding-out with for days, the minds behind this deliciously odd music allow you to stay for a while in their strange subcultural world. You might not want to live here forever but a short trip, while it lasts, rewires your brain for the better."

Artist: KOU

Label: Aguirre