Le Concorde makes a dazzling return after fourteen years with Second Mansions, a relic of the past and a bold step forward. Spearheaded by Stephen Becker and shaped under the hand of Scottish producer Calum Malcolm, the record is steeped in the jewel-toned 1980s sophistipop while breathing with the urgency of the present moment. With contributions from legends like Pino Palladino and Roger Joseph Manning Jr., itโs no surprise that this collection sounds lush, cinematic, and immaculately layered. Its title, borrowed from St. Teresa of Avila, hints at mysticism, while being deeply rooted in the mess and wonder of human life.
Take โCorpus Christi,โ where punchy drums and bright, shimmering synths provide the scaffolding for Beckerโs sharp, unpredictable vocals. His delivery cuts against the grain of the beat, creating a restless tension, as if holiness itself is breaking through static. Then thereโs the devoted anthem, โThรฉrรจse of Lisieux,โ where Becker belts out in his soothing yet high register, his voice carrying a weight of awe as glistening melodies surge underneath. Itโs not so much a pop song as a hymn wrapped in sequins, joy exploding in stereo.
The closer, โMemorare โ Montserrat Version โ Extended,โ strips things down with glistening acoustic strums and finger snaps before shimmering layers expand the sound into something bigger, more transcendent. When Beckerโs soulful and high voice rises like a prayer that releases and carries the sacred in rhythm as much as in silence.
Altogether, Second Mansions is less a comeback and more a resurrection. By weaving saints and synths into radiant pop tapestries, Le Concorde has provided reverent, radiant, and unforgettable music.
STAY IN TOUCH:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
Review by: Naomi Joan