Principia

Description

Parisian quintet En Attendant Ana have been dazzling since day one. From their 2016 EP *Songs From The Cave*, to their debut album *Lost & Found* (2018), and the sparkling refrains of *Juliet* (2020, Trouble in Mind). *Principia* is the band's third album, and undoubtedly their best to date. The voice of Margaux Bouchaudon, the band's leader, writer, and main composer, anchors many of the songs on *Principia*. Alongside her are guitarist Maxence Tomasso, bassist Vincent Hivert (formerly their sound engineer), and drummer Adrien Pollin. The band's secret weapon is multi-instrumentalist Camille Fréchou's trumpet and saxophone, which are more prominent and better integrated into the arrangements, adding a new layer of sophistication to the band's already good-natured indie pop. Chiming guitars, propulsive and seductive rhythms, and thoughtful brass arrangements cast an enchanting spell over Margaux Bouchaudon's melancholic yet hopeful voice. This is the first album to have been entirely shaped by the band, from conception to production. *Principia* is a big step forward without sacrificing the elements that make the band unique. Nods to French pop (both current and classic) are still present, and the band's penchant for 90s Anglo-Saxon indie pop (think Electrelane, Stereolab, American Analog Set) still resonates, but there's an air of maturity in the ten songs of *Principia*.