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Juveniles - We Are Young [SINGLE]

Kitsuné

by nikitar, October 24th, 2011 and has been Read 1521 times.
Last Edited by: Jack Stovin October 25th, 2011.

When Juveniles' "We Are Young" began playing through my headphones I thought of UB40 for those first 20 seconds. Maybe it was the slow percussive musical movements or my nightmares about the Eighties coming to get me, but that was my first thought. Then the beat dropped and while my dreams of the Eighties didn't exactly fade, they were certainly shaken and modernized.

Juveniles hail from The Land of Electronic Music, otherwise known as France. It's hard to believe that the trio only has 6 months worth of experience considering the purity of sound and consistency of character in their debut single, "We Are Young". This single is eerily reminiscent of music from three decades ago (not surprisingly the band sites Siouxsie and the Banshees and the Smiths as influences) but like the Six Million Dollar Man, Juveniles have the technology to re-imagine and rebuild that era while adding their own engaging spin on it.

"We Are Young" is a heavy/heady and rhythmic electronic piece that alternates between self-confidence and neediness. On one hand Juveniles just want to play but this is only because their fear of responsibility (stemming from an even greater fear of "messing up") is holding them back. Youthful confusion radiates throughout the song despite the its solid foundation. All in all the lyrics are on the repetitive side but they're catchy and easy to memorize. This loping and seductive single has all it needs to capture the interest of an audience bent on the past but looking towards the future.

Juveniles are standing right on the cusp of critically flopping or flying. Their success will come down to their ability to differentiate themselves from contemporaries like M83, Holy Ghost!, and Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti. I believe in them! They come from a rich tradition of French electronic music and this song and its EP are so good that they could ride on its success for another 6 months or so. That would give them time to develop their sound for their inevitable LP and make a real name for themselves.

To hear more from Juveniles check out their Bandcamp (www.http://juvenilesmusic.bandcamp.com) and look for their new release for "We Are Young" through art house label, Kitsuné.