Search - Les Hommes :: Mood Is Modal

The idea of Mood being Modal

Keith Bradford | Houston, Texas United States | 06/25/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Les Hommes's album "The Mood is Modal" is an unabashedly upbeat lounge album, and why not if their title holds true, which it does. Look up Modal for yourself. While listening to the six catchy songs that do not hold a hint of pop sensibilities, one cannot help but feel good, or at least better than the did before the album started. There is not a single aspect of the song that one can latch onto one must just let the songs take you on the ride. That ride being just upbeat and more fun without being predicatable or ordinary. The men of Les Hommes have take a forgotten art and reminded us of how much fun relaxing and getting lost in the music can be. If their is a criticism it is that there are not enough songs or that the six that there are are not long enough. Wait with a smile and your CD player on repeat for their next album. I could point out highlights or my favorite songs but everyone should listen and find their own."

Good EP of some Earlier Les Hommes Works

bordersj2 | Boston | 05/25/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Les Hommes are Rory More, Vladimiro Carbon, Tharek Abou-Chanab and a couple of different vocalists that may come on at different times and tracks. I beleive they're out of London but I know their label is Edizioni-Ishtar (Schema) and this 6 disc EP was done with the "Fez" theme to it. Their album, "Les Hommes", was also on Schema but released in the USA thanks to Thievery Corporation's ESL label.



This is a pretty good little set of tunes. Les Hommes trademark sound is the boastful organ and vibraphone touches. That's evident from track one, "Touched by the Hand of Tenorio", a song with a pure bossa lounge feel. The cut also has Monica Vasconcuelos on vocals (As Meninas). "The Mood is Modal" is another track that's got a similar vibe but this time focuses more on whispy vocals by Boat Girl. As for the other cuts, they all pretty much filled the role of solid lounge tracks. "Easy Boy" had some out and out piano style to it and some fun electronic kicks & words in it.



I'd certainly recommend this to the lounge fan. Although I have to admit that this sound or style of lounge might not be everyone's cup of tea. Also, I didn't much care for "Girl on a Mission"... heightened my bias, reminded me of something cliche'd that you'd hear on "Sex & The City". But for the six cuts and to add a bit to the lounge collection, why not? It's not on the same level as their full album of 2002, but it's a solid sample of cuts."