Autour de Lucie Immobile LP (Tan Vinyl)

'90s French pop nirvana, on LP for the first time! Autour de Lucie's follow-up to their geographical barrier-busting debut sees the band incorporating subtle keyboards and electronic beats to their well-established sensuous dreamy pop charm.

Autour de Lucie's self-titled debut album was a strong collection of French-language rock-pop, but their follow-up, Immobile, is nothing short of exquisite. Vocalist Valerie Leuillot's angelic vocals cover a greater range this time around, and musically Autour de Lucie is a much tighter and sonically daring band.

Like a Francophone Cocteau Twins or perhaps the quieter moments of My Bloody Valentine, Autour de Lucie creates sensuous, dreamy pop music that's got just enough substance to keep from floating off into the ether. As always, most of the charm is due to singer Valérie Leulliot's soft, breathy, but self-assured vocal style, which is like a less-deadpan version of her countrywoman, Laetitia Sadier (Stereolab).