KALUPTO - Head Down (Resolution) [Alt-Pop]

That rare thing, an English-speaking group in Paris, Kalupto keeps things fresh in the studio as well - sounding like lots of things and nothing else all at the same time. Led and fronted by the piano-playing, wonderfully named Calypso Larrazet-Llop - which hints at the gospel-rooted soulfulness underpinning her genre-fluid vocal style, she's not hanging about. After dropping the eclectic, forward-looking alt-pop A tribute to Blond(e) album in January this year, which was a more collaborative affair, she's currently teamed up with Victor Gonon and his electric guitar, and continuing on a singular path.

Embracing the imperfect, "Head Down" is not too hard on itself, and freed from the tyranny of studio perfection, soars as a result. With the gentlest of electronic starts - the perfect foil for Larrazet-Llop's considered vocals, it's not long before she's accompanied by some acoustic guitar and some low-frequencies that hint that there's a storm brewing. Hurrying to get ahead of the clouds, the vocals suddenly take off in operatic-pop fashion as the track spirals up and away. And then the quiet. The machine winds suddenly drop and the dark clouds part, to reveal the gentlest of electroacoustic passages, allowing all in the studio to catch their breath before the rousing - borderline tempestuous, distinctly operatic this time, electro-symphonic finale, which should bring all sorts of concert hall roofs crashing down in the coming months. Epic.

For more dramatic alt-pop, this time with an alt-rock edge check out the excellent Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys' Anchor album

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Playlist Companion

Find Kalupto in the Slow Alt-Pop Playlist.