Single Review

Les Jupes – Negative Space EP

• 14th Oct 2013

Canadian electronic rockers Les Jupes released their debut album ‘Modern Myths’ at home in 2011, and it was released in the UK last year to some pretty good reviews. Now the Winnipeg band will release a new EP, its four tracks taken from around 30 new songs they have written since. A second album containing more of the new material is expected early in 2014.

Les Jupes build their music around frontman Michael P. Falk’s strong baritone voice. The backing combines driving bass and drum rhythms with some lovely guitar and keyboard melodies that at times have a psychedelic edge. There is an eighties feel, but much more too, with a harder rock edge present that many of that era’s synth bands ever had.

Save Your Friends opens the EP, a bold track with a fine vocal performance. The slow paced start doesn’t last long and it soon explodes into life in fine style. Just a hint of female backing serves to emphasise the depth of Falk’s voice and a solid bass line anchors things very nicely. The Voices has more of a pop feel to it, with catchy hooks cutting through the multi layered instrumentation before an abrupt ending stops it dead.

Hold Me Down is much darker, the guitar more prominent here and the pace faster in a four minute plus track, the longest on the EP. The ominous feel is emphasised by the strong vocals and the bass, while the keyboards twinkle in the background. This one ends with a nice burst of guitar as a drum roll takes over. Interview With A Contract Killer has a hard rocking edge to match its great title. The most powerful of the four tracks, and possibly the best, it is a good closer and the big chorus is simple yet effective.

Les Jupes have said that the music they have written since the debut release has a simpler sound, but there is plenty of musical merit in these four tracks. On the basis of these samples, the next album should be a good one.

Venue: Negative Space EP
Support Band: Head In The Sand