THE PROPER ORNAMENTS : Foxhole

Possessed of an infectious gentility matched with a complex vulnerability, The Proper Ornaments have a sweet way of crawling into that secret diary of your head, talking to you, with you, for you.

There are two layers to them, they are unfailingly melodic, which makes them absorbing enough but they also have a deeper side to them : they are disarmingly sincere and elegiac. Elegantly mantled in hushed atmosphere, Foxhole is the kind of record which arouses reflection, conjures up  flashbacks and makes endearing company whilst reminiscing.

This is what intelligent music is about, it can be equally thought-provoking and pleasurable. Recorded on an eight-track,  this second record is more ethereal and contemplative than their debut album Wooden Head, it sounds more polished and mature, with more attention to detail,  while retaining another kind of crucial chemistry, despite its mellowness. Their guitars are beguiling and the album incorporates euphonious vocals,  the whole effort conveying a distinct and pristine poise, in the regal tradition of English pop songwriting. “Jeremy’s song” is a striking example, it catches you surreptitiously, sinks in and, topped with delicious guitars,  takes possession of your heart.

The Ornaments connect with the listener by articulating perplexing emotions into simple phrases and velvet melodies and making them relatable. The late Elliott Smith had the same modus operandi, crafting tunes that remind you of specific places and moments and comfort you or fill a void if need be.  The album closer “The Devils” forms a momentous hymn that is a flawless heart-warmer and lingers long in your memory.

Let this record be the soundtrack of your winter, a sonic delight wrapped in sapid layers of melancholy, a clever and sensible antidote to a neverending winter.





Foxhole was released on Tough Love Records on January, 20th.

THE PROPER ORNAMENTS : Wooden Head

The Proper Ornaments, a dapper name for a distinguished London band.

These gentlemen aren’t merely ornaments, they are the main attraction with their elegant style that evokes The Velvet Underground circa Loaded, the song Rock & Roll especially springing to mind as the cornerstone that shaped their trademark sound.

Those Londoners are by no means a rip off, they have soaked up the Velvets luscious vibe but have inserted other influences beyond this and from both sides of the Atlantic.

With the pristine “Always There”, they have inherited Felt’s lordly and poetic touch.

Partners in crime Argentinian Max Claps and British James Hoare (from Veronica Falls) combine forces and complement each other perfectly, vocally with their delicate and delectable singing as well as musically with chiming guitars.

Their collection of songs is made of a sleek and colorful canvas.

If one looked into it with a magnifying glass, one would find chiseled rare fabrics as well as precious bits and pieces. The Ornaments’ tone is lo-fi but constructive, they stand out from the crowd of  soundalike bands.

“Sun” is the perfect pop song, in its noblest sense. It radiates majestically. It feels like an exhilarating cinematic ride in a retro convertible.

Miles away from its dull title, Wooden Head is a dreamy technicolor record which is very coherent and intelligently entertaining, the type that lifts up the listener’s spirits and brightens their days.

To indulge in immoderately.

Wooden Head was released on Slumberland Records/Fortuna Pop on July, 9th.