Pas Chic Chic

Drenched in otherworldly swirls, organs, bleeps and moody, mysterious noises, Pas Chic Chic's gloriously gloomy Au Contraire is an affirmation of a fascinating new Montreal band worth hearing. Although the album is completely sung in French, the warm '60s pop and rock psychedelics capture listeners from the glowing opening track "Haute Infidelite" and don't let go until the hypnotic instrumental closer, "Plein Soleil." Pas Chic Chic stand above and beyond other hot Montreal acts of the moment like Plants And Animals and Patrick Watson, thanks to the added bonus of female vocals and a retro sound that isn't so much imitation but artful, musical dreamscaping. It's as though these guys just stepped out of some hippie bubble, biosphere with naive eyes wide open and wrote this record about the brave new world in front of them. Au Contraire transports, rocks and lullaby's the listener outside of trendy cities, genres and expectations, all while having a welcome Montreal sound.