Johannesburg-emigrant-turned-Brooklynite, St Lucia a.k.a Jean-Phiip Grobler, has been making a name for himself as the best purveyor of dream-pop we’ve seen in recent years. Unlike most in his genre whose careers began singing into hair brushes, Grobler began at the esteemed Drakensburg Boys Choir School where he cites learning everything from Bach to minimalist opera.
The new 11 track release, When The Night, eschews none of his old pop sensibilities and embraces them with fervour as the album rains down heavy on the saccharine synths and knits them with ethereal vocals.
Unfortunately for fans eager for new material, nearly a third of the album is borrowed from the previous EP, although to its credit every song works cohesively and is on par with the other; none of the tracks sit on the bench. The first two tracks The Night Comes Again and The Way You Remember Me initiate the listener to St Lucia’s anthemic pop sound and spirited toe-tappers, the latter giving the first touch of more sax to come. Elevate, the first single, echoes slow guitar strokes over an undulating melody peppered with Phil Collins esque drumming. Wait For Love jumps in as tropical as the Caribbean island of St Lucia’s namesake, All Eyes On You, brings more saxophone in to play and Closer Than This exhibits Grobler and vocal partner, Patricia Beranek’s harmonising talents. The album closes with Too Close upping a periodically growling tempo and When The Night launches into an epic seven and a half minute crescendo reaching ballad that will cross over well with live performances but the two minute long taper sounds like spa music through headphones.
If any of your clothing incorporates safety pins then this is an album you should stay away from, however it’s also a triumphant pop album that will enjoy deserved radio play and provides a strong and undeniably talented rebuttal for a genre that most think was Miley’d with a Wrecking Ball.
BY EDGAR IVAN
Best Track: The Way You Remember Me
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: PETER GABRIEL, GHOST BEACH, CHARLI XCX
In A Word: Transporting
