For many music fans, time is an enemy, especially when they have to wait for new tunes from their favorite artists. We’re also living in a time when SoundCloud accounts get flooded with new tracks every week in order to ensure artists’ continued relevance. Odio París are a rare kind of band; they not only took their time to make their new record, but have seized the chance to become a more compelling act than ever before.
It took the Barcelona-based band four years to follow up their debut album with a new full-length. When they exploded with their self-titled debut record back in 2012, the five-piece band made an impact with their expansive sound and catchy melodies. For Cenizas y Flores, OP doesn’t actually change much from their initial setup: The guitars swirl with noisy abandon, the rhythm section pounds like a well-oiled rock machine, and the voices are slinky and melodic in a very seductive way. Their newest effort, produced by Hans Kruger (who has been behind the boards for bands like Delorean and El Columpio Asesino), offers is a more fine-tuned outfit, one that’s bringing out the big guns.
First single “Camposanto” opens the record like vintage My Bloody Valentine. The melodies soar and guitars crash in a beautiful display of noise, pretty much setting you up for the rest of the ride. The band has worked on perfecting their sound, balancing their dream pop guitar excursions with the occasional keyboard. They even play around with some 80s-inspired melodies on some of their songs to great effect.
This collection has a fresh sound and a nice energetic pull, even if they’re playing with a genre that many copy verbatim. “En Junio” is an uptempo song that could be the Spanish cousin to many The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart cuts, with just enough contrasting pep and sorrow to hint at such a connection. “Geometría Coaxial” is ultra melodic bliss, sweet and jubilant, while “Cuando Despierte Tu Cabeza” leans toward classic synth pop. “Rendición” strikes a nice balance between those two extremes to give us a stellar, dreamy slow tempo track. Towards the end, we find “Adios y Arder,” another epic highlight in an album that’s so strong each track could end up on their greatest hits compilation.
Bands rarely take their time to release a record and truly deliver. Odio París have used that break to their advantage, letting their sound mature and stepping it up to a whole new level. We’re all the better for it.