Alexis Taylor has certainly never lacked ideas. As the prime voice of Hot Chip and over a steady run of solo records, Taylor has won a reputation for being a thoughtful songwriter who darts across genres.
Paris In The Spring, his seventh solo album, sees him embark on a new adventure. Drawing from country, soft electro pop, disco, and a touch of hazy Americana, along with an extensive list of collaborators, Taylor is charting new waters.
The opening stretch would suggest to the listener we’re in for something quietly special. ‘Your Only Life’ gently begins moving the record with Taylor singing about uncertainty and drifting purpose over a soft, almost snoozy, arrangement. Lines like “…life is hard enough for living / leave some space for giving” fit well here.
The aforementioned musical curiosity comes through and works fittingly on ‘I Can Feel Your Love’, which carries this easy disco warmth, whilst ‘Out Of Phase’, featuring Lola Kirke, moves through the dreamy electronic textures reminiscent of Hot Chip and includes references to David Lynch films. Yes, it’s a slightly odd combo, but the song’s wandering suits Taylor’s songwriting.
And then there’s the impressive supporting cast, who undoubtedly benefit the album. Contributors include Air’s Nicolas Godin, The Avalanches, Étienne de Crécy, and Green Gartside of Scritti Politti. There are these flashes of vintage pop throughout, but the album simply does not maintain the charm of its earlier moments. As it moves into the middle stretch, several songs blur together in tempo and tone. Yes the production stays pleasant, polished, but the songwriting begins to feel too stylistic and could have benefitted from a bit more structure, sticking to formula more.
That sense of detachment is noticeable on the Rolling Stones cover ‘Wild Horses’. It’s well performed and tastefully arranged, but the song never quite becomes the moving tribute we’d like it to in Taylor’s hands.
Still, there’s plenty here to remind us why Taylor is such a respected musician. Paris In The Spring might not reach the heights it hints at in the opening songs, but it’s a solid effort from a capable songwriter exploring new ground.
