Blue Coffee – Smile and Tears (2024)
Darkness and tragedy doesn’t always have to be miserable and desperate. In some cases, the depth of despair merely enhances the beauty of hopefulness; this is the case with Blue Coffee. From the funeral of a mutual friend, Gautier Rodriguez (vocals and guitar), Sebastien Tourel (bass) and Nico de Bank (drums) came together to explore their musical creativity and merge their natural talents. Joined by Francois Debiol (guitar) soon after, Blue Coffee was born and the inner world of creativity burst forth with exultant sonic joy. The latest addition to Blue Coffee’s discography is the single ‘Smile and Tears’.
Following the well-received single ‘Birth’, the France-based foursome presents a concoction of indie-rock, alternative rock, and indie-pop with a tinge of Britpop peeking out in ‘Smile and Tears’. As with the various flecks of rock merging into a single melody, ‘Smile and Tears’ melds different emotions and tones into a song of sophisticated rawness. Self-recorded and produced, the track shows sophistication in its composition; however, rugged roughness exudes in a somewhat naïve youthfulness showing a striking vulnerability in the elegant maturity.
From the rock-inspired ‘Birth’ to a melancholy rush of genre-diverse poignancy, Blue Coffee showcase its innovation, eclecticism and versatility as a band. For me, ‘Smile and Tears’ is far more expressive and intriguing than previous work. Inserting a sensual saxophone to peter out the bold guitars, drums and bass, the song is obscure without being too off-kilter. Confident but subdued, warm and cool, profound and pleasingly laidback, Blue Coffee offers so much simplicity and kaleidoscopic complexity in the new single.
More than a band with some good sounds, Blue Coffee’s lyricism ups the ante in their melodies. I find ‘Smile and Tears’ particularly profound as it gleans to the origin of the group. It looks at departures from the past to growth in the future and, ultimately, a true appreciation of the present. The band explains:
“’Smile and Tears’ is… a reflection on the bittersweet nature of life’s transitions. The track explores the idea that those who depart from our lives leave behind a legacy that fuels our appreciation for the present moment.”
Find out more about Blue Coffee on their Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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