Le Loup
Family
Hardly Art
Sept. 22, 2009

By Melissa Traynor

Comparisons to other bands are often too general, unsubstantiated and shed undue favorable or unfavorable light on the new band.

That said, I’m going to try and stay away from any Fleet Foxes and Animal Collective comparisons, even though, those were the first two band-alikes that came to mind when I listened to this album.

Washington, D.C.’s Le Loup (pronounced “lay loo”) generally fly under the radar, despite how much they embody a growing trend called “freak folk.” Though, it sounds a little intimidating, or just weird, Le Loup’s is a soft, attractive approach to the trend. It’s a secret I’d like to keep.

Family, the band’s sophomore record, appeals to the listener to sit back and absorb the music. Unfortunately, the lyrics don’t really matter, just the flow and cohesiveness of the record.

Le Loup do, however, capitalize on their songs’ feel, which is more tribal celebratory music – performed by white people. Odd? Probably, but the band brings a spiritual lift to each track that doesn’t seem fake or forced.

“Sherpa,” which is unfortunately pretty far into the record, is by far the its stand-out. It blends together passive and active periods of the song, swerving between a quiet, except for the bass, clock-ticking and water sounds, and an exotic anthem. The backbone guitar melody traces in and out.

“Sherpa” is centered around a few messy choruses and verses, again capitalizing on Le Loup’s ability to make a feel-good experience with male choral vocals. They are not sloppy

Similar in exotic sound and feel is “Grow,” the third track off Family. It uses a similar mix of pause and action, but with dreamier Beach-Boys vocals. In keeping with the older feel of the song, Le Loup add little drum breaks to the song that are remnant of the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby.”

Maybe Le Loup are bringing to the table things you’ve heard before, but I like to think they are packaging it in a different, wholesome way. Family is a small, familiar adventure.