CD: Marsheaux - Ath.Lon

Right now we’re at the heart of the silly season. In mid-August no-one releases albums (it’s the same in January). Here at Disc of the Day we’re screaming for something decent to review. But, no, microscopic bands choose to hold their albums back and go head to head with the big names during the pre-Christmas release splurge of September and October.

The fact is, as autumn arrives, no-one will cover Blobus & His Black Metal Armada over Britney, Bastille, Ed Sheeran, Haim, Frank Ocean, and the rest. We all like a bit of Blobus, sure, but we have a remit to review what people are interested in, thus Blobus often falls by the wayside.

It’s not rocket science to think it might be wise for unknown acts to grab the bits of the year when the media is quiet. The then-unknown Scissor Sisters did it in January 2003, for instance, with great success. Their people were clever. Not many are. Thus I’m scrabbling around looking for something to review. I’ve tried a couple of mediocre guitar bands. No go. DJ Snake’s album is under embargo so forget that. And then there’s this one, but it doesn’t blaze very brightly. The only other band anyone might have heard of who have an album out (apart from DJ flippin’ Snake) are Of Montreal. Yes, it’s really like that.

Marsheaux are a Greek electro-pop duo which I’d like to like. On songs such as the final string-laden “The Beginning of the End”, they muster Philip Glass strings and drama with some panache. There are also hints of something greater than what’s here on the New Order bassline-boosted “Wild Heart” and the slow moodiness of “Mediterranean”, but mostly the production is weedy and although the pair have well-matched harmonic voices, the levels are all askew. The 3/5 score is a message of hope rather than a true reflection. It’s to mess with those who don’t bother to scan the actual writing in this review. So cherry-pick Ath.Lon, dear reader, if you go there at all. And can some record companies please start releasing albums in August (and January).