Unclouded

Melody’s Echo Chamber has always paired far-out sounds with up-close feelings, but <i>Unclouded</i> possesses a new level of soulfulness in the project’s catalogue. To wit, Leon Michels—the Daptone-affiliated producer who brought a swinging-’60s vibe to Clairo’s 2024 album <i>Charm</i>—adds a touch of retro stylisation to the album’s glistening closer “Daisy”, showcasing Melody Prochet’s stylistic versatility in the process. After the rolling psychedelic bombast of 2022’s <i>Emotional Eternal</i>, Prochet’s fourth album finds the French singer-songwriter exploring lush orchestration and gossamer melodies reminiscent of psych-pop icons Broadcast, as well as the Gallic lounge abstractions of fellow countrypeople Stereolab. The backwards-played guitar washes of “Eyes Closed” in particular recall the freaked-out environs of The Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows”, with veteran drummer Malcolm Catto (Madlib, DJ Shadow) laying down tricky trip-hop beats across Prochet’s sticky-sweet melodies.