Plus De La Même Chose

So in the final scene of my French detective series, the hero protagonist stumbles out of a white-walled villa high above the sea. Wiping away the blood from his split lip he winces and then stares at the cerulean blue expanse sparkling away below, unable to break his gaze away from something so constant. Behind him you catch a glimpse of the arm of the treacherous femme fatale, the gun lying just beyond her still, dead hand; the woman he thought had loved him, but was really intent on avenging her brother’s death.

The music starts.

He wipes his lip again, shrugs, turns wearily and walks down the villa’s long, dusty drive, his steps growing surer, stronger as he continues, towards the approaching siren sound. A stray dog detaches itself from the shade and follows him, the camera pulls back and up suddenly. Fin.

---

The Limiñanas Shadow People was an album I bought on the day it came out in 2018, Malamore had been my top LP of 2016 and so I was so excited.

Shadow People came sheathed in a super glossy, luxurious-feeling gatefold that triggers all my vinyl kinks. There are cool guest appearances including Peter Hook and Emmanuelle Seigner, groovy song titles, Anton Newcombe plays throughout and there is just the right amount of music*.

But, but, but … against all the odds, Shadow People is a listless album. It hurts to say that because I love the Limiñanas. With a couple of very notable exceptions Shadow People is far more of a vibe than a set of good songs, it let me down.

As we are all about celebrating the positives here at 1537 let’s hear it for ‘De La Part Des Copains’ the closing music for my regarder les détectives movie, all mournful, regret-strewn and dusty. Newcombe’s influence is most clearly evinced on ‘Istanbul Is Sleeping’ an excellent Euro-Velvet Underground excursion, all girl-group drums, drug fuzz siesta and sunset; perfect music to nod off to in your hammock.

Peter Hook pops up to do Peter Hook things on ‘The Gift’, which despite its necessarily ersatz nature may actually be one of my very favourite Nouveau Order songs. It is really excellent in a very understated manner and I love Marie Limiñanas’ vocals. This is way better than anything the real NO have recorded since ‘Regret’ and I am real sucker for any song that breaks down in the middle then builds back up again.

All of which may seem like a rave review, but for me that’s really it for Shadow People. Nothing here is remotely bad, everyone involved is far too good for that, but it doesn’t sound so inspired and I am sorry. Cuts like ‘Le Premier Jour’ with its parlerchanter** pale before similar tracks on Malamore and the song writing is not as good as some of their previous triumphs.

So my advice is loop up the trio of excellent tracks above and move on to their next LP, sometimes that’s just the way le cookie crumbles. Now if you don’t mind closing your door on the way out I need to spend some alone time with the gloriously luxe sleeve of Shadow People.

1309 Down.

*39 minutes, since you ask.

**surely only a matter of time before this ousts sprechgesang in critical circles.