BELLE HISTOIRE, perhaps wrongly, will inevitably be compared to other female fronted pop-rock bands, with the ubiquitous obvious being PARAMORE. It’s an especially boring comparison to make here, as their latest EP ‘I Can Tell’ offers far more musical variety than what you’d expect from such a saturated market.
The infectious ‘Be Alright’ is a standout track, mixing Regina Specktor-eque quirkiness, a refreshingly forward and uplifting sentiment and best of all, an extended handclap section.
‘Sailing Ships’ takes the band in a different direction. It is here they really break away sonically from their pop-rock counterparts, showing their musical depth and exactly why they’ll be ones to watch. It’s brooding, heartfelt stuff veering into alt-country territory – certainly not what you’d expect on first impressions. Obviously, taking their inspiration from bands such as THE CIVIL WARS, this foray into darker subject matter shows the potential and growth BELLE HISTOIRE are capable of.
Never far away from a catchy melody, ‘Stay A While’ reinforces the band’s melodic chops, it’s fun, kitsch and definitely something that you’ll find yourself humming to unconsciously. ‘Misguided’, a piano ballad about lost love, balances the EP nicely, and though it’s not particularly groundbreaking, it is entirely relatable.
The EP is certainly impressive, and for those who go in expecting not much more than another slab of generic pop-rock, you’ll be caught dead wrong.
CLARA CULLEN