There is no greater happiness than when you find a band whose album is constantly on repeat, while you are simultaniously aware of its brilliance and its flaws. Still, you found something ineffable that makes you spin it one more time and turn the volume up to the maximum. It is even bigger joy when you get to share it with people who have similar taste.
Notilus is band comprised of five renowned French musicians who combine energetic jazz and atmospheric electronic. With respectable number of concerts on few French festivals, this quintet finally presented their debut Notilus in spring of 2017. Very smartly constructed repertoire fluctuating from positive trumpet and saxophone sections with deep sense for sophisticated melodies to downtempo, melancholic sound images and then back to dynamic patterns.
This album sometimes sounds as intergalactic, retro-futuristic journey, yet at other times it gives you a crossover between jazz variations and Stranger Things soundtrack, without any pretense, and full of self-irony. It is nice to hear how electonic and brass section can deliver a wholesome music, without the intention to be liked on the first listen. It is clear thst the oroginal idea was not to create elevator music and shopping malls soundtracks. The album unfolds with Tangerine, and it gives you a hint with what are you going to deal with. All that retro sci-fi impression continues on Behind and Popcorn, until you come to Allien that sucks you into the world of nicely tuned melodies. What also characterizes this record is that there are no single heavy tones. It is all about good vibes.
Bands like Notilus are difficult to find. Such an impeccable amalgam of jazz and electronic is much more than that. It is a jazz adapted to the times we live in.
