Blue Violet - 'Faux Animaux' Album Review

Tracklist:

1. Sweet Success

2. Imagine Me

3. Survival

4. Talking To You

5. The Librarian

6. Cold Hearts

7. Boogie Shoes

8. Fire

9. Teeth Out

10. Barefoot On The Seine

11. Faux Animaux

Blue Violet were a new band to me late last year, I know I’m coming late to the party, but I got to review one of the singles from the album and instantly asked if I could get to review the album, I was so intrigued and impressed.

The album starts off with 'Sweet Success', think of an improvement on Goldfrap, of which more later (which I acknowledge won’t be a universally held opinion but hey, to each their own and I’m clearly right) and you’ll get the vibe of the album opener. Personally, I really enjoyed it, it pulled me in, made me want to dance and got me ready for more, it felt like it has the potential to be a single.

The second song, 'Imagine Me', has slightly dark overtones, it sounds like a lovely song but then when you listen to the lyrics it clearly involves some celebrity stalking, I’m not sure I’d want the person singing it appearing in my dressing room and, for me, I also felt the lyrics made it clear the person singing it wasn’t also getting any satisfaction from the stalking business.

'Survival' has a totally different vibe to it, introspective, an acknowledgement of how on off relationships can be damaging, especially for the person who comes across as not the one who calls the shots.

'Talking To You', the fourth track, has a very atmospheric opening which flows into a very rhymical, romantic song about yearning and trying to connect while acknowledging the damage that can be caused by failing to communicate.

'The Librarian' though, may be the track that breaks the band big, it has that big movie feel about it, soundtracks surely beckon? The lyrics, This life keeps giving me everything, I keep turning Lemonade to Lemons again (fantastic lyrics) surely has to be the low point for the main character when they’ve stopped believing themselves? It’s moody, it’s intense, it’s just prefect.

'Cold Hearts', the 6th track, feel to me, like the yearning someone has for when the passion has gone, when you no longer get that buzz from someone else but you’re still together, Lovers in our own way, summing it up. Its clear the singer feels a coolness in their lovers heart, that they want to rekindle what was there before, but they don’t know how to, it isn’t stopping them from trying though. Do they succeed? We don’t find out; the song fades away.

Having listened to 'Boogie Shoes' a few times now the lyrics are clearly about using hedonism to cope with other stuff going on. To an extent it out Goldfrap’s Alison Goldfrap, it reminds me of her but also has a touch of the intense menace of Shirley Manson. I’ve been thinking of sinking my teeth in…..

'Fire'', however, changes the vibe again, for me it has a touch of 80’s new wave about it while also sounding like a classic pop song which suddenly vibes into a prince like state.

'Teeth Out', a brilliant name for a song, messes with perceptions, with the fact the people don’t always not know what they want, that they don’t always know what they need, that sometimes you make your own luck, whether that’s good or bad.

'Barefoot On The Siene', was the single I reviewed for this site, it’s what made me want to hear this album in the first place and having listened to it again I think it’s even better than I thought, you’ve got the right to wear whatever you want, you’ve got the right to love etc, it could be an anthem for a generation. I absolutely love this song, why it hasn’t had more impact is beyond me but I’m hopeful that it’s a slow burner, Jo Wylie, it should be your obsession!

Closing track, 'Faux Animaux', the title track, is about taking control, deciding for yourself what will happen, it’s atmospheric, it reminds me of a 90’s indie track in its intensity and yet stillness. It then slips into something totally different, suggesting that perhaps taking control should actually be about letting go, the atmosphere builds until it fades out with a feeling of poignancy that just makes me want to start again.

So how to sum this album up? It comes out in January, and I already have it on my potential shortlist for album of 2025. I wasn’t expecting to be blown away like I was, it’s a fantastic mix of dance, rock, indie vibes and introspection. I am struggling to think of a misstep, a poor lyric, a mistake in tempo and there is a reason for that, this is a truly excellent album.

Time to break big? Absolutely!