Yeti Lane – Yeti Lane (Sonic Cathedral)

Paris may be famed for many things but for all its culture, art and history, atmospheric indie isn’t exactly high on its list of achievements.

As a result, the eponymous debut album from the French trio Yeti Lane could go either way. Will it offer a refreshing blast of inventive indie, far removed from the cringeworthy Euro-pop efforts that have dogged the continent’s music scene for so long? Or, dare we hope for the ten tracks on show here to follow in the footsteps of Air who managed to straddle the mainstream, while retaining their artistic credentials?

While it may not reach the heights of Moon Safari or The Virgin Suicides, Yeti Lane possesses more than its fair share of charm. True, the lofty ambitions of this plucky three-piece may occasionally be hampered by a low production budget, but there is plenty to suggest that this act could have a big future ahead of them.

Opener ‘First-rate Pretender’ sets the tone, with its central riff recalling a jauntier Dinosaur Jr. It’s quickly followed by ‘Twice’, with the resonating vocals of Ben Pleng chiming with spiky guitars that recall Sonic Youth or the early rumblings of Ash, before they turned into hard rock bores.

But there’s more to Yeti Lane than shoegazing with tunes. Vocally ‘Black Soul’ recalls Neon-Bible era Arcade Fire, while its harmonies go as far as to bring to mind ‘Across the Universe’ by a certain little-known band from the Liverpool area. Meanwhile, the upbeat brass that features on ‘Tiny Correction’ adds a flamenco string to the group’s bow. It may not cause Beirut sleepless nights anytime soon but it’s a refreshing change of pace.

As with so many debuts, Yeti Lane isn’t a complete success. While ‘Think It’s Done’ is the most radio-friendly moment, its chorus never quite packs the emotional punch to really be a contender. Similarly, the haunting ambience of ‘Only One Look’ is let down by the rickety percussion which jars its early progress.

Nevertheless, a strong finish soon sures things up, with ‘Lonesome George’ overcoming its Grandaddy-esque bleeps and clicks to stand up as a winning indie pop tune in its own right. Elsewhere, ‘Heart’s Architecture’ provides fitting closure, with an anthematic structure.

Yeti Lane may not currently stand as the finished product but the influential Sonic Cathedral label may have just stumbled upon the French music scene’s best kept secret in their new signing, who offer a low-key gem.

Written by Daniel Smith