Elyose – Persona

Elyose
Persona
February 18, 2021
43:56

Elyose were founded in 2009 and have since released three studio albums. The concert in Paris on the occasion of the band’s tenth anniversary was recorded and released one year later as an album, DVD and Blu-ray. Shortly after the band’s anniversary, they parted ways. Singer Justine Daaé turned Elyose into a solo project. In the times of Corona, she dared a new start. An EP was recorded called “Persona”. She had support from other fellow musicians. Anthony Chognard mixed and mastered the album. The Spanish artist Nat Enemede designed the artwork.

Industrial sounds at the beginning, later rocking, with a slight pop edge, that’s how the opener “Metropolis” presents itself. As usual, this song is also in the mother tongue of the French singer. And Justine shows her vocal abilities. Her soprano manages to reach the greatest heights. But also, the middle range is her domain. And again, and again the keys and other electronic gimmicks resound. Surprise, in “Fit In” there are English lyrics to be heard and these even come from the pen of the singer herself. Screams are interspersed from time to time. And the obviously indispensable industrial keyboard / e-piano sounds. On “Mille Silences” Julien “Nutz” Deyres growls. These contrast harshly with the almost fairy-like female vocals. In addition, harsh guitar riffs.  Here you are reminded of the previous album “Reconnexion“. The last new song “Hurt People” is also in English. Here, too, the riffs are banging out of the speakers, once again underpinned by synth keys. Here the voice is partly technically alienated.

What follows are two bonus tracks. First, a so-called “Helalyn Flowers Remix” of “Fit In”. OK, so far, I haven’t been able to do much with remixes. And that doesn’t change here either. For me, this is more of a fill-in. But die-hard (Industrial/Techno) fans might enjoy it. I like the acoustic version of “Mille Silences” much better. Here Justine is only accompanied by a concert guitar.

Two things stand out when listening to “Persona”. Firstly, the regular songs sound more catchy than on the last album. And English lyrics are no longer taboo. Two songs in French, two in English. If this is the new direction of Elyose, then it’s a step in the right direction. Let’s see what the future brings. “Persona” is at least a successful debut of the “new one-woman project”.

ELYOSE – Mille silences (feat. Julien “Nutz” Deyres): https://youtu.be/uqkQ_3A6AkI

Lineup:

Justine Daaé – Vocals, Keyboards

Guests

Anthony Chognard – Guitars, Bass, Drums
Maxx Maryan – Keyboards, Orchestrations, Electronics, Programming
Julien “Nutz” Deyres – Vocals (track 3)
Jean-Baptiste Thomas-Sertillanges – Lyrics (track 3)

Track list:

• Metropolis
• Fit In
• Mille Silences
• Hurt People
• Fit In (Helalyn Flowers Remix)
• Mille Silences (Acoustic Version)