We previously featured DreamGood for exploring the fragile balance between confidence and self-awareness on the metaphorical and surrealist single, Yo Ego, so when we heard that the project was back with their album, Paris Novella, we were curious to say the least and couldn’t wait to listen and share our experience.
Paris Novella opens with a track called Spaceman, drawing us in with textured drums manifesting with a pulsating energy and cerebral percussion nuances, expanding with a subversive synth and astral detailing. We experience the lyrics, “I’m coming out, I’m taking off my clothes again, I’m flexing my body…”. The concept of the song is rooted in escapism with a transportive edge. We love the spoken word moment that introduces psychic Paris Novella within the narrative of the record. It’s all brilliantly delivered and produced, the concept according to DreamGood is an “explosive art-pop track and the grand entrance of Paris Novella. An unapologetic song that explores big-poses and celebrates overt sexuality…”. This really transpires and the guitar solo finale feels like a sonic ascension aligned with the theme of the song.
Next up is Looking for Love, which opens with a more meditative energy and 60s-style guitar performance. Again the shirt is off, and we are flexing for love, the self-referential details make the album feel cohesive. The psychedelic details are sublime and we love brooding and cinematic elements. We could imagine this being featured in an episode of Heated Rivalry. DreamGood shares, “Looking for Love examines the evasiveness of love mythology and our relentless search for it. This soft-funk synth-pop track coos like a romantic fool looking into a mirror of water.”
Lifeline opens with a more electro-grunge energy, moody and cerebral once more. We appreciate the more vulnerable vocal performance that emerges and the panning bell sounds. The idea of “living outside yourself” is really moving and resonates like a mantra with power-pop harmonies to accompany. Again, this is super sync friendly and we could imagine this being featured in season two of Carrie on Amazon Prime. The project tells us, “Lifeline is a soft-boy introvert’s alt pop, about believing in your innate intuition. This electronic weirdo pop looks at the unfathomable, uncertain aspects of being human.”
This leads us to All the Animals which opens with a meditative synth and pulsating beat with cosmic guitar notions. It feels peaceful and is designed by the trio as a track that “doesn’t hold back its honesty, exploring the beauty and brutality of being alive in a world of survival and is influenced by Quincy Jones, Leonard Cohen and Lou Reed.” We love the poetic prowess on this track, it’s very intelligently written and feels like a positive affirmation at a time when we need it the most with the hook, “I feel beautiful indeed.”
Strangers holds a more experimental allure, inviting us to sway. It taps into gender expansion and we could imagine this in an episode of Heartstopper or Invisible Boys. It invites us to explore our inner world and feels like an important release, something that ANOHNI, Sufjan Stevens, Thom Yorke, or Perfume Genius might release.
Next is Never Been To Paris which opens with compressed vocals and an immersive synthscape. Within the context of the album, DreamGood tells us, “Never Been To Paris explores Paris Novella, mystic, empath and lovable hustler who has never been to the city they are named after. Blending French house, Italo disco, synth-pop and indie dance with a punk edge.” It feels like a movie in its own right and we’d love to see a music video for this.
Psychic TV is mysterious and taps into 80s notions. It has funk and nu-disco electro-pop sensibility that gives the album another dimension. The concept of a psychic hotline, with frustrated callers interrupting Paris Novella as they attempt to predict the future, is amusing and surreal.
Next is Sex and Support, which opens with rippling water sounds expanding into a soft-funk love song that draws on the spirit of Prince, Madonna and George Michael. It’s sensual and oozes nostalgia, leading us through to the more futuristic Kingdom of Fear which taps into a more confrontational approach, merging experimental spoken word hip-hop, art-pop and electro-punk. We learn that it is inspired by Hunter S. Thompson’s book of the same name and explores mainstream media and its relationship with the sacred innocence of our inner child.
With Ghost Letter, DreamGood move into more experimental territory but with luscious 80s synths. This is super cinematic and would fit into a show like My Life with the Walter Boys, or All’s Fair starring Kim Kardashian. The message is vulnerable and reminds us of Radiohead. It could also work well in a show like The Day of the Jackal. The message is framed as a letter to one’s younger self. The song feels introspective and emotionally revealing.
Destiny continues this exploration, drawing on electronic experimentation and examining what it means to trust again. Influences from James Blake and Fever Ray emerge through the atmospheric production. Again, highly cinematic and would work well in a show like the psychedelic, Nine Perfect Strangers. The high emotional quotient of this one is beautiful and the haunting synth interludes add dramatic resonance.
Love Will Scare You shifts into a more ambient, alt-soul space, with a floaty softness. Echoes of Little Dragon, James Blake and Vera Blue can be felt but to be fair, it is another product of a highly cohesive, yet genre-expansive album from DreamGood. The metaphorical depth and message of self love feel zeitgeist and important here with “I do…” resonating like the positive affirmation that we all need.
Kings arrives with a bold electronica energy and is inspired by a Sydney drag king’s show. We love the cerebral synths here and the innovative nature of the production overall. DreamGood tells us, “Kings is electronic alt-pop that starts big, then just when you think it can’t get any bigger, bigger it gets. Bringing Atoms for Peace and Perfume Genius to mind, the track forges its own unique path.”
Finally, Illuminate holds a sparse and spiritual energy with hand pans inspired by the Taj Mahal. The vocal production is the most genius here, super trippy and cerebral. With sonic associations to Floating Points, Gorillaz and Little Dragon, it develops from a sparse opening into something that practically demands movement.
Across Paris Novella, DreamGood have created a character who is part mystic, part romantic, part provocateur and part lovable hustler. The album moves between sexuality, fear, identity, intuition and the search for meaning, and like the best surrealist work, it doesn’t insist on a single interpretation; instead, it invites us to enter the world of Paris Novella and discover what the reflection reveals about ourselves.