Greek dark electro-pop artist Johnny Labelle released his second album XVIII, today via Inner Ear Records. The release comes a year after his debut LP “Cold Fruit”.
The LP consists of 9 tracks that vary from dark, ambient, electronic sounds to dirge-like crooner ballads that instead of saloons are meant to be performed in eerie half-lit empty lobbies of big tech companies during the final collapse of the world.
Our generation’s answer to the great crooners songs from the past. Johnny Labelle and his single ”In The Sun”, from his sophomore new album XVIII is the soundtrack of our new dystopian world.
”In The Sun” is a crooner’ song; let’s get that straight from the get-go. If you have no affinity to the baritones of Scott Walker or Richard Hawley then take heed: this song is set in a smoky dark cellar-bar with a jukebox that spins Leonard Cohen, Diamanda Galas, Tim Buckley and Alan Vega. ”In The Sun” with it’s lethargic synthesizers, cinematic strings and Labelle’s baritone vocals, is deep, dark synth pop at it’s finest.
”In The Sun” is a crooner’ song; let’s get that straight from the get-go. If you have no affinity to the baritones of Scott Walker or Richard Hawley then take heed: this song is set in a smoky dark cellar-bar with a jukebox that spins Leonard Cohen, Diamanda Galas, Tim Buckley and Alan Vega. ”In The Sun” with it’s lethargic synthesizers, cinematic strings and Labelle’s baritone vocals, is deep, dark synth pop at it’s finest.
“Doppelgänger”
Brilliantly juggling between the most beautiful jazz standards and retro-futuristic pop synth music, “Doppelgänger”is a weirdly dark and touching song.
About the Album:
A year after the release of his debut LP Cold Fruit, Johnny Labelle returns with XVIII.
In his sophomore album, the Athenian singer-songwriter dives into the world of a forgotten dream in search of lost meanings and forms. With the 9 tracks of the album he brings back to the surface what was salvaged from oblivion along with its resignified interpretations.
The tracks, originally recorded as demos in mid-2019, were completed together with producer Vasilis Dokakis in 2020. The result of this collaboration is an alloy of electronic pop and ambient with dark elements, based on lethargic synthesizers, cinematic strings and Labelle’s baritone crooning vocals that give a familiar and at the same time uncanny sense of pop standards of a previous century.
In his sophomore album, the Athenian singer-songwriter dives into the world of a forgotten dream in search of lost meanings and forms. With the 9 tracks of the album he brings back to the surface what was salvaged from oblivion along with its resignified interpretations.
The tracks, originally recorded as demos in mid-2019, were completed together with producer Vasilis Dokakis in 2020. The result of this collaboration is an alloy of electronic pop and ambient with dark elements, based on lethargic synthesizers, cinematic strings and Labelle’s baritone crooning vocals that give a familiar and at the same time uncanny sense of pop standards of a previous century.
About John Labelle:
Johnny Labelle is an experimental pop artist and producer born and based in Athens, Greece. His debut LP Cold Fruit released independently in 2019 and co-produced with filmmaker Aaron Khandros, featured cross-disciplines collaborations – Berlin-based pop artist Magic Island, poet Rae Armantrout, filmmakers Martha Colburn, Zachary Epcar, and Karissa Hahn to name a few. Over the past two years he has shared the bill with Jaakko Eino Kalevi, Magic Island and Discovery Zone and has performed in Greece and Europe.
“Labelle’s croon is reminiscent of Scott Walker with the song’s vibe recalling that of some old Lee Hazlewood songs. The way both of those artists seem to come to us from a long time ago and probably seemed so then. A certain timelessness and the channeling of the hyper reality of a lucid dream.” – Queencitysoundsandart
Johnny Labelle
“XVIII”
[Inner Ear Records]
“XVIII”
[Inner Ear Records]
Format: Vinyl LP, Digital
Purchase on: https://orcd.co/johnnylabelle_xviii
Tracklist:
1. The Dolphins
2. Doppelgänger
1. The Dolphins
2. Doppelgänger
3. AK
4. In the Sun
5. Greek Dark Age
6. Beginning of the End
7. Visceral
8. Disillusionment
9. Poseidonia
