Lust For Youth / Dernier Sex / Xarah Dion / The Marquis @ La Sala Rossa

CJLOXSUONI

REVIEW: CJLO - 1690AM, CHOQ.ca, No Exist, Suoni Per Il Popolo, and CKUT 90.3FM present: Lust For Youth / Dernier Sex / Xarah Dion / The Marquis - Saturday, June 11, 2016 @ La Sala Rossa

From the shimmering synths and slick production on Lust for Youth’s latest release “Compassion”, the band’s trajectory over the past 5 years represents an unassuming sonic evolution. What started as the lo-fi darkwave solo project of Hannes Norrvide, gradually morphed in to 3 piece pop band, through an organic process of collaboration.

There is a similar sense of aesthetic unity and songcraft that ties together Lust for Youth with colleagues of Copenhagen’s experimental underground (Lower, Iceage, Croatian Amor, Puce Mary). 2013’s full length “Perfect View” balanced the obtuse lo-fi minimalism of previous record (Growing Seeds) with warmer, lusher instrumentation. The 4/4 beats on title track “Perfect view’ and the funky break on “Another Day” appear as early indications of the dance oriented trajectory the band would be leaning in. In 2014, Norrvide was joined by longtime collaborator Loke Rahbek, and Malthe Fisher, producer and guitar player for the release of “International”. Consequently the record marked a turning point in the evolution of the band’s sound. The intimate, reverb drenched, lo-fi abstraction of Norrvide’s solo work was channeled into concise song structures, crystal clear production, and synth driven melodies.

This year’s release “Compassion” is a further elaboration of the glimmering synth, dance floor ready direction established 2 years before on singles “New Boys” and “Illume”. Despite this change that has been described by major music publications as a rough stone polished to a crystal, the tracks retain the same emotional textures and themes that are idiosyncratic to Norrvide’s previous releases. The synth hooks and vocals buried under grainy production are unearthed and placed to the forefront.

Montrealers were treated to a great set at last Saturday’s Suoni performance at La Sala Rosa, showcasing the bands early work, alongside newer hits “Better Looking Brother”, and dancefloor favourite “Illume”. For many this was the first time hearing the early discography tracks such as Growing Seeds’ “Behind Curtains”, as a three piece band. Synth player Rahbek with a posh isolation scarf hanging from his shoulders occupied the right of the stage. Phantom-wielding Fischer on the other side, the two framing Norrvide’s nonchalant dance moves. The crowd bobbed effortlessly in the dark venue under austere red lights, made less menacing by Norrvide’s swaying, showcasing the buoyancy and danceability of their earlier songs.

Lust for Youth’s prolific activity, and seamless sonic evolution over the past five years is a testament to a creative process that embraces happenstance collaboration, “letting inspiration hit” rather than working according to a plan. Norvidde explains “We don’t write before, we write while we record”. Lust for Youth is an ever-changing project, whose musical trajectory is remains as unpredictable as the band’s unassuming beginnings.

Whether it’s through their consistent records, sincerity of their performanes, or their disarming and always entertaining twitter feed, it is clear to fans that Lust For Youth is the project of artists who simply “enjoy making music”. This unwritten contract between spectator and performer is particular to Lust for Youth performances. The most diehard fans of Norrvide’s earlier work, goths, punks and new-wavers alike, dared to dance into the early hours of the morning, that unusually cool summer night.

 

Danilo Bulatovic hosts Computer Sourire every Tuesday at 4PM, only on CJLO. Computer Sourire showcases music that bridges the gap between new wave, techno, EBM, industrial and synthpop. Come explore synth driven music from the late 70's to the present day with Danilo!