Seven Dreams Of Fire by Lydmor & Bon Homme out on 6 November
Imagine bringing together two distinct but complementary musical talents, already established as composers and producers in their own right, one male – with years as a performer on the festival and club circuit behind him – and one female – a rising star with a siren’s voice, a maverick committed to live performance. Imagine their astonishing sound: an intoxicating concoction of driving rhythms, lush synths, psychedelic effects and instantly memorable hooks drenched in a dark atmosphere of melancholy and brooding beauty.
If you can do that, you’re on your way to grasping the wondrous soundworld of ‘Seven Dreams of Fire’, the debut LP from Lydmor & Bon Homme – a partnership that brings together Tomas Høffding, the singer-bassist of experimental Danish electronic pop trio WhoMadeWho and Jenny Rossander aka Lydmor (literally ‘Soundmother’), a singer-songwriting star rising from the fires of the underground and spreading her wings.
Kicking off with single ‘Things We Do For Love’ – a masterclass in slow-mo house, with Bon Homme’s husky drawl and Lydmor’s pure voice soaring over a luxurious bed of sustained pads – it’s an album whose consistent quality never lets up. From the stirring orchestral strings of ‘Trooper’ to the expansive motorik disco of ‘Dream Of Fire’ to the low-slung bassy groove of ‘Go Fingers Go’ to the lush, anthemic ‘Flash’ to the stripped down sub bass and intimate vocals of ‘Wired’ it’s a fine representation of the duo’s recent string of intense, crowd-pleasing live performances.
Next one up is the playful opening of the analogue synth symphony ‘Vanity’ – ample testimony to their experimental edge – it’s yet another string of pop noir classics. ‘Trampoline’ seduces with its breathy pop funk, teeming with crisp, percussive details. ‘Tear Us Apart Again’ is infectious and choric, underpinned by simple but brutally effective synth repetitions. ‘Rain’ is a dreamy bagatelle where Lydmor whispers seductively, tantalisingly out of reach, leaving you wanting more. ‘Missed Out On Disco’ features a Cure-like guitar motif with male and female vocals ghosting each other while ‘Dream Of Fire Part 2’s synth drones cast a widescreen, cinematic feel.
