{"product_id":"bryans-magic-tears_smoke-and-mirrors_2025_lba","title":"SMOKE AND MIRRORS","description":"Summer of love: they didn't experience the first one, they studied the second one well, and they're plotting the next. Bryan's Magic Tears releases their fourth album, Smoke and Mirrors, with Born Bad. The Parisian band, which maintains its reputation as troublemakers with dilated pupils by elegantly demolishing compositions live, will have a tough time with this new series crafted in the studio with Marc Portheau, which should withstand their assaults. Still present in their latest records, 4AM and Vacuum Sealed, the garage\/noise culture is drifting away without being forgotten. Benjamin Dupont (guitar\/vocals) collaborated with Lauriane Petit (bass\/vocals) on four tracks, but it’s by recording each instrument that he confirms this pop coming-out. This strange creature is capable of getting excited about the most cutting-edge shoegaze while confessing an unexpected kink for All Saints. Aptly named, this new record plays with stadium music while respecting its codes. It can be appreciated from various distances. But on a literal level, yes, it’s as if Shaun Ryder had eaten Liam Gallagher. Without any shame, it churns out hits, backed by a wall of sound jointed by Raphaël Berrichon \u0026 Nicolas Boursier (guitars). \n\nThe album is structured by that typical 90s shuffle beat, a syncopated drum-loop flavor that Bryan was already flirting with… but now there’s PACS, which lives in two-thirds of the tracks. The synth that opens Crab Kiss will feel for some like an acid trip back to Born Slippy by Underworld, which shows how deeply it resonates in this record. It avoids crossing the Channel—and time—to seek out baggy-compatible music. There are also many pockets on the synths, which complete this very textured melodic work (Fancy Cars). But Bryan's Magic Tears remains a band of versatile guitarists, capable of playing glide in the ambiance of My Bloody Valentine, stacking compressed power chords like Jenga, or laying perfectly mastered guitar-drum traps (the excellent Stalkers, which should allow drummer Paul Ramon to shine). \n\nLauriane \u0026 Benjamin pretty much hold the same vocal discourse, alternating rhythmic phrases crafted like riffs (Death Row), and sweet, laid-back, harmonious layers (Deep Blue). There’s less Velvet and more Ride in this record, a rounder sound made for swaying your head, arms outstretched, leveling the ground with festival sneakers (Side by side). \n\nThe album ends with Lady D, a clever slacker's dissertation on the topic 'Musically translating the expression is excessive. 500 words, 3 minutes.' Intro with acoustic guitar, strings on the chorus, warm melancholic-core vocals, flanger on the drums when lighting lighters… and placing spoons on top. Because yes, it remains music for taking drugs to make music for taking drugs to listen to music. But it also works sober.","brand":"BRYANS MAGIC TEARS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57249442169176,"sku":null,"price":23574482.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0898\/4943\/0360\/files\/3521381591460.jpg?v=1786315640","url":"https:\/\/vinyles.com\/en-us\/products\/bryans-magic-tears_smoke-and-mirrors_2025_lba","provider":"Vinyles.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}