Avec Sans - Heartbreak Hi
The adverts on Facebook about Avec Sans feature a quote from The 405 which states the following: “Think simple but sweet electro in the CHVRCHES mould.” They certainly aren't lying, so there's no grounds for a claim of false advertising here. There are a number of comparisons to be drawn between these London-based synth-poppers and their Glaswegian counterparts, but let's set aside that barrel of similies for now.
Alice Fox of Manchester and Jack St James of Trinidad comprise this outfit, and their debut record Heartbreak Hi falls snuggly into its carriage on the electro-doused hype train. 'Even The Echoes' provides a gentle and spacious opening, whilst the following title track represents the Smash Hits pop peak of the band's craft as Fox's vocals and agile synths perform a thoroughly entertaining dance. 'Shiver' feels colder (sorry) and more direct by comparison, and showcases a darker and far incisive side to the pop star dream.
Aesthetic appears to be the key to said pop star dream in today's industry, and Avec Sans have that down. From the image implied through their sound to the striking simplistic of Heartbreak Hi's artwork (which features Fox). The record itself progresses through a number of subtle gears on its course, and whilst a start-to-finish listen is likely to dissolve into a blur of synth and vocal melodies, each track holds a degree of beauty when given attention and room to shine.
For example, 'Hold On' and 'The Answer' strike an uplifting and positive tone despite their somewhat introspective and emotive lyrical content, whilst 'Resonate' and 'All Of Time' embrace the negativity and display the sombre portion of the duo's repertoire. 'History' however embraces that shameless pop ambition with pulsating synths and an anthemic and entirely relatable chorus, with the latent energy present in following track 'Close My Eyes' allows the listener to see the bones of a stadium-filling setlist beginning to form.
There are gems and glimpses of greatness within Heartbreak Hi, but Avec Sans have been too long-winded in their telling of their electronic story. Whilst the shades of melody and emotion can be rewarding on repeat and close listens, perhaps consolidating several similar tracks into honed super tracks would have pushed this to more of an accomplished record than the fully commendable and enjoyable declaration of intention that it is.
