With a title like “Prosopagnosia” it was not difficult to determine that Gina Été was on a mission to make music that would make some sort of statement rather than simply entertain the ears. And so it was with the murky and blurred cover art acting as a signpost to her direction of travel.
“Prosopagnosia” is quite a dark album, and one sung in several languages, and it is an album with much in the way of evidence that Gina Été is unafraid of experimentation. The brooding atmosphere is reinforced by the hypnotism inherent to the looped beat sometimes giving a curious, robotically detached, sensation as if in conflict with the more organic elements. Perhaps this is by design as technology often diverts as it converts yet the fragility of those analogue components, in particular Gina Été’s voice, makes, as a counterpoint, an almost poetic impact. Her words, however, are far from lightweight and, no matter the language she chooses to sing them in, she speaks of serious things with introspection and uncertainty often providing the lyrical motivation.
It would be fair, therefore, to say that “Prosopagnosia” is not an album with immediate appeal or, indeed, one with mainstream appeal in this plastic world. It is also fair to say that albums that reflect on deeper matters have their place and, if you care to take the time to listen, you might well find that this one has something to offer you.
Best song: “The Bet”
Verdict: Serious.
Available from Bandcamp and the other digital locations.