L’Avenue - Club Tropez

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

L’Avenue’s Club Tropez paints images of sultry tropical nights, moonlit beaches and passionate dance floor motion as it unfolds. Intricately interwoven sonic layers interact with reedy sax and jazzy, complex synth solos to create ear candy. This album manages to soothe and energize simultaneously.

The way in which L’Avenue uses the synth palette on Club Tropez results in dense, satisfying sonic layers. He mixes smooth glide with dynamic motion, contrasting glow and bass depth while keeping everything silky and luscious. Clarity is paramount, but there’s a roundness to the music that I enjoy.

Auditory imagery is a crucial aspect on Club Tropez. L’Avenue fills this music with tropical sensations and tranquility leavened with energy. Each track illustrates scenes of relaxation, passionate nights and luxuriant life. The way in which this album transports me from the world is deeply engaging.

I’m drawn to L’Avenue’s effective collaborations with sax player Alex Bone and synthesist Marco Casanelli on the album. Both guest artists fit seamlessly into the chilled out vibe of the music and their contributions serve to intensify the album’s overall feeling.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Club Tropez” comes to life as sweeping, flaring synth slips cleanly along with distant voices as vast bass pulses and clapping percussion ticks along. Dance floor friendly drums and pulsating bass drive the music as gleaming chimes flicker out above the supporting heartbeat.

Luminous, string-like synth carries a soothing melodic pattern delicately out over the track’s low end. Balmy synth carries a calming melody as piano notes ring out to boost the track’s energy. Evenly throbbing drums and bass add form as hollow percussion trips along with taut, elevated synth.

Female voices ring out and metallic percussion trembles. The pleasingly crafted melody exhales summery peace and rippling, open-sounding synth drifts. Muted, misty notes glide out into silence.

Huge drums rebound as elevated, open-voiced synth trips in flickering lines to open “Wildstyle.” Muted drums bounce while unctuous, glistening synth flares out, adding intense shine above richly swirling bass.

Chimes sparkle as they carry a lightly touching, peaceful melodic pattern above the strong drums. Underneath it all, bass forms a lush support while radiant synth trips in a rapid note pattern above bursting, hollow drums.

Enjoyable calm suffuses the music as effulgent synth exhales brightness. Now tremendous drum weight bursts in along with bass strength. Angular, medium-high synth trembles as varied percussive sounds form a unique flow above the track’s low end. There’s a feeling of rippling water within the percussion before the track ends.

“Limousine” begins with a brushing hiss as easily floating synth clouds give off hazy light. Hollow synth flows along with softly tapping drums and a laid back bass upwelling. Diffused, distant synth contrasts with flaring notes while drums and clapping percussion provide shaping elements. Flitting chimes dance briefly and raised synth adds more gleaming illumination while distant voices echo out.

Radiant synth carries a charmingly peaceful melody, full of cosseting sensations. Solid drums rebound and creamy bass wraps around them to add support. Intriguing percussion contributes texture as it cascades and rattles. Rounded synth chords add a fulfilling feeling as drums keep ticking. An elevated synth pulse further shapes the track.

String-like notes dance out with intense shine and now Alex Bone's sax cries out, carrying a melody exuding chilled vibes and a luxurious feeling. Quickly flaring notes add glinting shine and string-like synth uncurls through the music.

Open-sounding percussion tumbles past and Alex Bone's sax brings passionate emotion and a jazzy, ultra cool sensation. An airy shakuhachi sound floats off in the distance to add another sonic layer. This track is overflowing with a pillowy, relaxing sensation that fits its title well.

Thunderous drums rush briefly before gently glittering synth, solidly popping percussion and actively swirling bass move in to commence “Body Rock.” The drums create an unevenly rebounding percussive pattern while spinning synth moves past and slap bass jumps in.

Deep, succulent synth chords bring weight to the quickly moving arpeggiations while soft-edged synth flows. Horns cascade briefly while the drums leap in rushing lines. I enjoy the way in which the drums add depth and strength below the trembling synth cascade.

Marcello Cassanelli’s widely roaming, intricately dancing sax-like synth radiates dynamic energy and life. Massive drums reverberate and angular synth skips with slightly jerky energy before ending the song.

“Breakin’ “ opens as dry sounding snare drum taps while gruff bass pulsates in quickly vibrating lines. Chimes echo with a melancholy quality, feeling a little pained as bell-like percussion plays a distant samba rhythm.

Glistening chimes tumble, conveying a lost Rough-edged bass actively adds power below the ethereal high notes. There’s a bending quality in the smoothly elevated synth that slips past. The track moves into a segment in which bass blocks interlock with the snare drum and bell percussion while siren-like sounds howl and voices move.

The track sails pleasingly into a pastel mist before Marcello Cassanelli’s jazz-inflected synth solo flutters intricately through, adding interest. Fragile notes brush through and crystalline chimes ring again above the gigantic bass and tapping drums before the track ends.

Diamond shine pours from climbing synth lines as percussion snaps in to kick off “Tour De France.” A flat snare drum adds a dance beat as angular bass slices below an actively arcing, chiming synth pattern. Medium-high, broadly gleaming synth sweeps into the music while arpeggiating, coruscating notes flicker and rich sounds exhale.

Voices cut in briefly as smoothly rising synth slips upward and gruff, angled bass slides under sun-bright notes. Below the other sonic elements, heaving drums and bass push on. Water flows as twirling, glimmering arpeggios spin out while metallic percussion adds intriguing textural contrast. Breathy notes exhale and the higher synth intertwines with them. Elevated, intensely glowing synth imbues the track with glaring luminance before the music fades away.

Conclusion

Club Tropez is excellent music for chilled out summer nights. L’Avenue’s music carries the listener away on an incredibly smooth, aurally complex journey. The album is totally relaxing without being even the smallest bit boring. L’Avenue makes music that soothes while keeping one’s ears very happy indeed.