Estère – My Design, On Others’ Lives
(Independent / Prison Tapes / Rough Peel Records)
Reviewed by Bridget Herlihy.
The exquisite Estère has returned with the follow-up to last years ‘My Design P1‘, the second part making this album – ‘My Design, On Others’ Lives’ complete. This marks the conclusion of a body of work that the songstress has spent a large part of her life curating, drawing inspiration from her own life as well as those of a bystander watching the experiences of others, as if she were actually walking the proverbial mile in someone else’s shoes.
As a stand-alone EP in its own right, ‘My Design P1’ was full of musical highs punctuated with Estère’s distinctively divine vocals and her trusty machine sidekicks, sampler Lola’s beats and synthesizer Korgi’s smooth melodies. Yet Estère’s vision for the complete album takes this to even higher levels of sonic splendor. Her trademark multi-layered electro-soundscapes continue to burst with energy while continuing to defy a multitude of genres. ‘My Design, On Others’ Lives’ first single Rent is an addictive tune; just a single listen will have it happily running through your head for days while putting a definite spring in your step. Second single Nomads twists and turns with an array of beats that merge together to form an eclectic, hypnotic track, while Gun Kid is almost a track of two parts, telling a story of gun culture while swinging between a soulful Estère accompanied by a sole guitar before the beat-heavy chorus swings into action. The sweet and sultry L’ouiseau Dand L’otoile (The bird in the camera) will have you brushing up on your French, while final track Guilty, which starts as a stripped back, ballad-esque tune before the groove and pseudo-tribal beats drop, adds another unexpected dimension. Estère is without a doubt a master of musical surprise, keeping her audience on their toes and full of anticipation about what may be laying in wait.
The merging of the two parts of My Design truly is a beautiful thing, as they come together to form a cohesive whole. Estère takes the listener on a musical journey storytelling, discovery and sheer brilliance. This album truly is nothing short of divine, providing an immersive acoustic experience that demands to be listened to closely and played from beginning to end, repeatedly.
