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Rien Faire - 2026 - "Le Defile" (33:27; Dur et Doux) Back with their third album, the French trio of Alice Perret (keyboards, vocals), Lucas Hercberg (bass, big guitar, vocals) and Corentin Quemener (drums, vocals) continue to make music which is designed to make life incredibly difficult for reviewers like me. This issue all reviewers have when listening to an album is how to put into words what we are hearing, and this is something which defies all normal categorisation. In many ways it is a soft, very French, pop album from the early Eighties which has been influenced by Devo, Thompson Twins and the angular approach of Talking Heads. But there are also influences from Frank Zappa, The Doors, psychedelia and The Seekers, which when thrown together should sound terrible, yet there is something here which is fresh and exciting, creating a pop sound which invites the listener in, even if they have forgotten all the French they learned at school nearly 50 years ago. There is a sweet innocence throughout this release, and perhaps the title (“The Parade”) provides a clue of what they are looking to achieve, especially with artwork which is full of bright colours and action. This is not music which should exist in the here and now, as the scene has moved on so very far from the early Eighties when bands were basing music around keyboards, pop mentality and a refusal to conform to what was expected of them, with Devo leading the way for so many others, and that sense of humour is certainly palpable. The best thing anyone can do is investigate for themselves and discover just why I have had so many issues describing it and just sit back and enjoy the experience. Progtector: July 2026 Related Links: Rien Faire Dur et Doux