Insane Blue – A State of Mental Confusion (2021)
Originally formed approximately 30 years ago at the beginning of the 1990s, France-based indie duo Insane Blue began making music on a relatively small scale. The mid-90s saw Phillippe and Paul began “taking serious steps in music” while at university; however, it is only now that the cousins release their first album. After decades of collaborating with artists across the globe, the lads have established a name for themselves, and we are happy to introduce them to you with A State of Mental Confusion.
Following their singles ‘Time’, ‘Haze’ and ‘Build A Home’ (all released in 2020), Phillipe and Paul pooled their songs, embraced their creativity and brought A State of Mental Confusion to the world. Well-received by critics across the blogosphere, the eight-track album has been described by Jamsphere as having “…a palpable sense of urgency”, by Find No Enemy Mag as possessing “an innate size and depth that has you almost wholly immersed”, and by Edgar Allan Poets as “a coherent work where every slightest nuance is kept under control” – see, we said they were well-received.
To the team at The Other Side Reviews, Insane Blue is a duo proving they are not to be pigeon-holed with their innovative sound. I could place the band somewhere between Radiohead and Depeche Mode, but the incorporation of indie-pop and folk in A State of Mental Confusion makes Insane Blue too difficult to define. It might be their experience with musicians across the globe that contributes to the masterful composition and superb understanding of melodic harmonies; then again, the lads may just be natural talents sharing their superb style with us.
As I mentioned, there is an element of Radiohead in A State of Mental Confusion, particularly with the ethereal ‘10’ and more powerful ‘Haze’ leaving you in a wistful sonic whirlpool. Yet, despite the surrealness of the murkier tracks, Insane Blue illustrate their versatility with a pop-inspired ‘Nightfall’, ‘Time’ and ‘Crown of Twelve Stars’. Tinged with synths, dynamic guitars, pianos and even a string section in ‘Time’, Insane Blue highlight how each instrument can have a prominent position while still coming together as a united whole at the end.
A diverse album filled with unique arrangements, A State of Mental Confusion does have a particular 80s quality to the album. What I enjoy most is not the contributions of pianist Leandro Zilberberg, drummer Chuck Sabo or string composition by Javier Orman and Benjamin Kaufman. No, what really captured my heart was the intensity and intimacy of the vocals. In ‘Time’ Jessie Wagner, most well known as a backing vocalist for Lenny Kravitz, grabs you by the hand and leads you through a delicate kaleidoscopic soundscape. Moreover, the heartfelt tones from the Insane Blue pair wrap you in a warm blanket underlined with a deep sentimentality.
Truly an 80s vibe album, A State of Mental Confusion is a blast from the past but without falling into particular categories. Exceptional, anthemic and intriguing, Insane Blue has created an album that not only brings old-school whimsy to the fore but adds a contemporary edge for newer audiences to enjoy.
For more from Insane Blue check out their Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
