Two of the tracks on Afterglow, are tracks that you’ve probably heard before, sometime or another. We Got U, has especially been making the rounds, featuring on EA Sports’ latest FIFA game. Playing To Lose however, has opted for a lowkey affair, somewhat sliding under the rug compared to some of Lemaitre’s greatest hits. It appears that Norwegian electro duo Lemaitre work best in short bursts. With their second EP of 2016, Afterglow, which follows on from the well-received 1749, Lemaitre return with four new tracks in typically-concise style.
On Afterglow, the obvious French house influences have been partially replaced by the cosmic dazzle pedalled by DJ/producers such as Flume and Disclosure. Opening track ‘Playing To Lose’ is a little lo-fi for Lemaitre, with the outstanding attraction coming in the form of Stanaj’s guest vocal. The union of the mid-tempo lite-funk and the searing ebb of the track’s synthscape provide Stanaj with understated support. However, for an opening track, we’d normally expect something a little more fierce from Lemaitre. Following track ‘We Got U’ does a lot to redeem that. Featuring New York electro duo The Knocks and an infectious whistle throughout, ‘We Got U’s’ stuttering loop nestles in comfortably between David Guetta’s ‘Memories’ and his monster hit ‘Titanium’ with a fiddly bassline that fades in at the track’s denouement. With the help of The Knocks, who have enjoyed a lot of success over the last couple of years themselves, Lemaitre are fully realising their pop credentials. The vocals on the track do a lot to fulfil Lemaitre’s fondness for indie rock, hitting an oddly satisfying spot between Julian Casablanca’s growl and Liam Gallagher’s slurred delivery.
Third track ‘Haze’s’ minimalist intro is particularly enticing, with vocalist Phoebe Ryan fitting the role of breathy seductress extremely well. The track’s build from echo and ambience to dance maximalism shows off Lemaitre’s chops for festival bangers- a staple in the dance musician’s diet. ‘Haze’ is a supreme, refined production, boiling down the thick blocks of synths and drops shipped out by the likes of Nero and Madeon into something a little subtle but all the more rewarding. Final track ‘Last Night On Earth’ opts for delicacy once more, slathering acoustic guitar in reverb before stacking layers of synths in the chorus. ‘Last Night on Earth’ is a worthy closer, combining Lemaitre’s affection for electro and indie rock. It’s pensive, but open-ended enough to suggest further transition with their next work. With 8 EPs to their name over six years, Lemaitre have more than proved their worth over the course of a sprint. And if Afterglow is anything to go by, Lemaitre have got the credentials for a full-length album in their locker.
| 1 | Playing To Lose | 3:24 |
| 2 | We Got U | 3:30 |
| 3 | Haze | 3:55 |
| 4 | Last Night On Earth | 4:10 |
