Le Groupe Fantastique - The Powers Divide
Review by Karl Magi
Overall Album Impressions
Le Groupe Fantastique’s The Powers Divide mixes a brooding synthpop sensibility with intriguing lyrics, a strong vocal performance and innovative combinations of synthesized sounds. What results is a pleasingly unsettling collection of ear-catching music that I enjoy diving into.
Lyrics and vocals combine well on The Powers Divide. I enjoy the unique sound of the vocalist with his expressive range and ability to capture the essence of the lyrics. The songs combine shadowy feelings with more tender emotional moments to convey the complicated nature of human states of mind.
Eclectic musical influences all become interwoven in a fascinating way on The Powers Divide. The ‘80s feature prominently but those classic sounds are given fresh twists. I enjoy the way in which all of the styles collide to create addictive tunes, full of glowing light and seething darkness as they unfold.
I also take pleasure in the synth layering that takes place on the album. The complex interleaving of different tones, timbres and sonic textures has my ears excited each time I listen through the music. I find myself engaging with the songs more intensely as my mind roams across the intriguing synthscapes.
My Favourite Tracks Analyzed
“Is This Me?” comes to life as organ-like synth forms a distant tremor while reverberating, medium-high synth leaps into a glowing, twirling pattern. The lead singer’s voice captures a retro sensibility and twangy, funky guitar pulses in.
The lead singer’s voice has a darkly powerful quality that draws me in as it echoes out above exuberant drums. Elevated, glistening synth carries an airy and lightly touching melodic pattern as the drums and bass drive on. Fragile, medium-high synth notes glide out and warmly swelling organ shifts.
Massive bass growls underneath wildly tumbling synth, curling all around itself. The lead singer’s voice cries out and broadly twisting synth wanders in an angular, dynamic pattern. Intertwining, shining synth wraps around the thudding kick drum before the song ends.
Our narrator asks the song’s subject if the picture of him is what he is to them. He speaks of a “tablet of gold” that the song’s subject must understand to see that “the shapes of your mind fit right into mine like heaven falls down.” He adds that they are both completely aligned now.
The storyteller wants to know “is this me? Is this real?” As he talks about how we stand up for people who can’t “cherish bodies” as they are worlds apart. He points out that "invitation makes us start.”
A hollow sound creates a desolate feeling as jangling synth leaps in with flaring light to start “Criminal Records.” Funky, propulsive bass interlocks with huge retro drums as nasal-sounding synth wriggles along.
The energizing vocal melody is carried on the lead singer’s unique voice as gleaming chords sweep in along with thunderous bass. A trembling, motivating pulse effectively fills the bass as the lead singer’s voice is imbued with expression.
Heavy drums tap and glimmering synth pulses ring out as the funky, groovy bass presses on. The lead singer’s voice soars upward as twanging synth pops in rapid lines. Drums and bass keep the energy pumping before the song ends on a distorted synth undulation.
All that our storyteller can hear and all that people say to him is “come here baby and walk this way.” He says those people are just “criminal records from the past” that won’t last.
He speaks of the person who is “dressed to impress” but home by ten p.m. because “all that swagger, it’s just pretend.” Now the narrator talks about the song’s subject asking to dance, trying on romance and “thinking you’ve a chance” but ultimately won’t be able to find him.
“On My Mind” commences as rippling, open-voiced synth flows smoothly as slap bass tumbles. Elevated sounds add pleasing sunlit sparkles and the drumbeat has a loose-limbed, rapid motion. Deeply felt emotion fills the lead singer’s voice and crystalline synth and breathy sounds flow along with the leaping drums.
A funky bassline pops in as varied, catchy percussion forms a guiding pulse. Soft-edged, creamy synth whirls with a gently caressing sonic drift. The lead singer’s distant voice has a pained quality above layered percussion and growling bass.
A gliding, tremulous synth pulse adds to the other elements to create a propulsive, but soothing whole. The lead singer’s voice is soft and drifts out as silence captures the music while warm voices rise.
As the situation is “running right in front of me,” the narrator says he doesn’t think he can fight what’s on his mind. He’s unsure if “we’re done for good this time” and he finds it hard to say how he feels but he hopes “we’re not really parting.”
Weighty drums hit hard along with a taut, rushing synth pattern and clapping percussion to begin “The Powers Divide.” Metallic chimes ring out above towering drums and bass shifts in oscillating blocks as tightly wound synth pulsates.
A plethora of different percussion supports open-voiced panpipes. The lead singer’s vocals flow as sliding synth forms a motivating pulse while deeply resonant chimes call out. The lead singer’s voice leaps out, enjoyably expressive as bubbling synth shifts.
Active, varied percussion slaps in with a reverberant tone as digital-sounding synth shivers. Colossal bass swells and the percussion shifts. Low, wide-sounding synth jumps dynamically. A minor key melody is carried on flaring chimes as metallic sounds hammer out and propulsive drums and bass drive on.
The teller of this tale tells the song’s subject to “gaze right through me” as the answer they’re looking for is on the other side. He wants them to see “the pleasure and the pain” inside of him that’s “so easy to hide.”
Our narrator speaks of the powers dividing “like lovers entwine.” He says that the song’s subject can take their chances but “the stronger you are, the harder it will fall.” He concludes that when one paints by numbers "sooner or later It will fade to grey.”
“Brand New Lies” kicks off as vast drums hit hard while a host of percussion instruments add excitable energy. Glowing synths climb and hard-edged bass slices while the aching vocals ring out.
Rounded, beaming synth carries a slowly undulating melodic pattern. Wriggling synth trickles above the lead singer’s wonderfully melancholy voice. Heaving low end power and a clean snare drum pulse push on while the roaming melody flows.
Wide-sounding guitar carries a melody combining power and longing as the battering low end tide rushes. The lead singer’s voice Is strong while a worshipful chorus rises. Bursting snare drum pulses on before a ferocious drum assault commences, crushing as an agitated, angular synth twists before the song ends.
“You can call on me, anytime, anywhere” says the narrator as he adds “as long as you care.” He asks the other person not to be the “one who turns away” pointing out that everything fades away.
Our storyteller says that the other person has to tell him how to reach them because “I’m tired of games and playing names.” He says that the other person has to be fair because “I’m the only person who cares.”
There’s a twist in this tale as the narrator asks the other person to be at home when he calls in to “tell you brand new lies.” He continues by saying that “things are easy, buy more time” and ends by stating that things are different.
Buzzing synth carries a bending melody with a tragic tinge to start “Lonely Beast.” An upbeat vocal melody climbs in above widely throbbing drums in a distinctly disco rhythm. Scattering snare drum leaps as the vocalist chants.
The drums push on and quickly flickering synth trembles above the hip-shaking disco beat which I find infectious. Smoothly flashing synth carries a sailing melodic pattern as tremendously heavy drums interlock with the disco bass pulse. Gleaming synth flits as the smooth synth melody slides as the vocalist chants.
The image of a woman running into the night as she follows “the trail of a lonely beast” opens the song. The narrator speaks of a red moon and fires burning at night. He ads that he can see in the woman’s eyes that "she’s ready to turn tonight.” Our storyteller speaks of his loneliness at night as he waits for the night to control him.
“Counterfeit” opens as tripping bass moves along with a deeply reverent sound. Broad-sounding synth sweeps through as bass tumbles and a snare drum throbs. Ethereal, delicately drifting high synth slips and the vocals carry a mysterious melody.
A cosmically sliding background moves and snare drum scatters as the vocals call out with a dark twist. Misty synth clouds are cut by tautly falling, string-like synth and giant drums. A chiming synth with a minor key twist carries a contradictory melody, both unsettling and tender.
I find the melodic contrast intriguing in this song. Muscled percussion drives on as gritty synth is touched by feather-light notes. The lead singer’s disembodied voice slides through and elevated notes sparkle out into silence.
The storyteller begins by saying he was neither lonely nor holy. He says that he has a feeling that “you’ll like what I like.” He speaks about taking one’s time but “nothing slowly” and having a lot of love “for life on the outside.”
Our narrator speaks of having feelings “beneath me.” He adds that “you don’t control me” and says he is a counterfeit and he’ll be “your heartstring.” He talks about taking his time and accepting “these lies.” As the song ends, he concludes, “I’m so sorry man but that’s just life.”
Conclusion
The Powers Divide is a journey through a retro synth landscape, full of quirky twists and fresh sonic combinations. It respects its influences while still forging a new path while drawing the listener into its musical world.
