by Ivory Wynne (@conoroberstlvr)
Since their start, Cor de Lux has never shown to be anything but itself. Authenticity has been the center of their sound and really their entire ethos. Staying authentic does not always mean staying the same though. With Year of the Horse, the North Carolina based four-piece took their post-punk, shoegaze-esque sound and gave it a total makeover. The record shows the band's strengths sonically and is a beautiful progression from their earlier projects.
Media, their previous full-length release was a bit softer than Year of the Horse, a record that experimented with shoegaze more than anything. All the band's members are talented in their own right, with the capability of adapting to different sounds and genres. Their songs could be just as interesting without lyrics. When they come together instrumentally, they are able to create something that could be almost entirely ambient. Year of the Horse does seem to experiment more with the lyrics underneath all of their musical hardware. You get the best of both worlds with this record.
The opening track “Blind Smile” is one of the best off the album, maybe in their whole discography. This track is one of their punchiest, starting out with a great opening guitar riff. The vocals are raw and incessant, not just on this track, but the entire record. Lead vocalist Dawn Moraga’s voice seems gothic-rock inspired, using a bit of a spoken word technique on “Blind Smile” specifically. The avant-garde vocal style is perfect for this kind of delivery. A good intro always goes a long way, the song seems to capture their comfort as they embodying themselves to the fullest.
Year of the Horse is filled with songs that give off a sense of angst and rebellion. The political spin the band has on their lyrics showcases those themes and emotions best. In general, Cor De Lux most often tackles issues of wealth inequality and exploitation. “The Cringe” showcases their contempt for the elite and upper classes with the line “make a dollar a day with no worries at all,” proving to be reminiscent of early bands like Sonic Youth and L7 both lyrically and sonically. Closing the record is the track “Strawberries” which settles the listener from the high-energy songs to something a bit more melancholy. It starts off feeling very shoegaze then gradually moves into something a little more garage-rock at the climax, retaining a mellow sentiment in the process.
People have been making alternative music for decades. There are so many great influential bands and artists out there that have pioneered the sound. It has become increasingly challenging to stand out. Cor De Lux takes influence from all types of genres across the alternative spectrum and Year of the Horse honors its predecessors, while staying unique. The future is looking bright for the band as they make themselves known. Seeing them perform all together live is the only thing that could make this project better than it already is.