This album starts off with "Cross My Heart". This is a light, breezy start that leads way to some actually seriously lavish instrumentals. Melody this time around seems to be distancing herself slightly from the Psych Pop of her last album. But in its place, is this very true to form Psychedelic Folk. All around this seems to me to e so much less gimmicky and shallow. It's breathy and Psychedelic, and some of these instrumentals are actually stunning. Then we have this sort of weird Hip-Hop freakout complete with Jazz flute, and you know what that means. All around, I feel like Melody has upped her sound in a gigantic way. Not to mention, this track very gracefully hits the 7-minute mark, meaning Melody is really pushing out into new territory. And your damn right it's exciting. This track is pretty wild all around. Not to mention, the production here is so much more intimate, and if Melody is going for an all around retro track this is absolutely 110% the way to go. The strings are epic, the guitars are grand, it has a cinematic feel, I couldn't be happier. On the other hand "Breathe In, Breathe Out" has a little Garage Rock flair to it, and I couldn't be happier to hear that. But it also has loads of very Psychedelic synths and multi-layered vocals that work wonderfully for Melody. While her debut was a little shallow in parts, I feel like this album is actually coming off like some relic of the early 70's. It's actually really punchy too like those wailing guitars are absolutely an amazing touch. I seriously can't get enough of what we've been hearing so far, and Melody continues to sound wonderful. On the other hand "Desert Horse" slows down for an all-around more cosmic and bizarre sound. But for a much slower, genuinely freakish song this works for Melody. Like, I felt in the past that Melody's work was just a little too obvious for me. I always just felt like I knew where it was going. But between the freakish vocals, the bizarre Hip-Hop elements, and Melody's twisted lyrics here I have genuinely no idea what I'm going to hear next. I do sort of wish this track was a little more catchy because that's what made the first two genuinely awesome. But this very wild (yes, wild) album continues to be just so engaging. Now, I don't know why, but I've never been that into some of Melody's French-speaking songs. In the case of "Var Har Du Vart", this track is a mammoth of a disappointment. I actually really dig the stripped-down vibe and the very breezy atmosphere. But at least than a minute and a half, this is a mere afterthought compared to the wild and genuinely freakish material we've heard so far.
" Quand Les Larmes D’un Ange Font Danser La Neige" on the other hand is instantly so much more cinematic and seriously beautiful. I love just how gigantic her instrumentals are like there is some seriously lavish stuff going on here. And here, Melody's very breathy vocals come off so cozy and legitimately beautiful. This one, while it's still pretty out there has so much comfort in just how psychedelic it is. I love just how almost Jazzy Melody's performance is. Not to mention, I have to add some of these tracks have some legit Progressive Pop vibes with just how many layers and seemingly different movements there are. As this one rolls on, it just gets so blatantly obvious that this is a completely different ball game from Melody's first album. " Quand Les Larmes D’un Ange Font Danser La Neige" is light years more ambitious and is just so cinematic and colorful than anything I could have expected. But with " Visions Of Someone Special, On A Wall Of Reflections" Melody takes a big step towards a more modern sound. Hell, there's almost a Jazzy vibe here. Personally, I do feel like Melody sometimes does hop around a little too much. Meaning, so many times she gets into this groove and sounds like a real classic of the 70's, in the best way. But there are sadly a few short moments here where she loses that a little bit and comes off so much more as an imitator. And to be honest, that's not a problem. But on tracks like this, it's just so much more obvious. This isn't nearly as colorful as the early tracks here, and Melody seems less focused. But the very cosmic vocals and adventurous feeling of this one does help a little. But remember that I was just saying about Melody flip-flopping a little? Well on "Shirim", it comes off genuinely exciting. Not only do we get this very elegant and sweet Psychedelic Rock riff, we get this almost abrasive beat backing it up. It's a very colorful track, and Melody sounds at her most charming. This is a mix up of styles that I can really get into, and honestly, I really hope we hear more of it in the future. And don't worry, as sort of modern this one comes off, I have to say it remains genuinely freakish and experimental. For a finale, "Shirim" works great.
Rating: 7.5/10
Give A Listen To: “Cross My Heart”, “Breathe In, Breathe Out”, “Quand Les Larmes D’un Ange Font Danser La Neige”, “Shirim”
Least Favorite Track: "Var Har Du Vart”
Genre: Psychedelic Rock / Psychedelic Folk / Psychedelic Pop
Overall Thoughts: Melody returns 6 years after her debut with an album that I honestly feel like is so much more adventurous and genuinely colorful. While I felt like her debut was shallow in parts and was just trying to be another throwback artist, the music on “Bon Voyage” comes off legitimately retro sounding. There are almost some progressive elements on here bizarrely enough, mostly with just how many layers and movements there is on some of these tracks. Melody, to begin with, had so much potential, and on “Bon Voyage” she exceeded my expectations. There are a few slight hiccups, and occasionally Melody flip flops a little too much between a more current and retro sound. And not to mention, I really wish this album was longer because I want to hear more of this sound. But still, the future is looking absolutely wonderful for Melody.
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