“Think the centre of a Venn diagram between Mogwai’s Les Revenants soundtrack and Yo La Tengo’s for Old Joy,” we wrote of Docks‘ Ballast EP back in 2018. “A simplicity that belies its own nature, born as it is from a struggle between melancholic beauty and needling dread.” The Toulouse-based duo Manon Raupp and Daniel Selig have placed such a balance at the centre of their sound, a blend of dream pop and slowcore that first emerged on 2017’s Montseny EP and has continued to develop, most recently on the lush, patient soundscapes of Terracotta Ladder.
Docks are now back with a brand new seven-inch, Cardinale Nord. A joint release between Hidden Bay Records, Discos de Kirlian and Araki Records, the two-song single follows the brighter threads that emerged on Terracotta Ladder and represents what is perhaps the most upbeat Docks release to date. Which is not to say the balance has been upended. The melodious title track certainly possesses a newfound lightness, favouring comfort over foreboding, but an undercurrent of melancholy remains and the closing minutes find a sense of urgency too.
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B-side ‘Barricades’ follows suits, its post-rock roots leavened with luminous melodies that evoke a sense of fondness. The unease of previous releases has matured into something more reflective, as though in maturing, the Docks focus is shifting from a fear of the unknown to an appreciation of what is right there before us. It’s a sensation tinged with both loss and longing, but rather than being overcome by such emotions, it repurposes them to ground us to the moment, and find beauty and meaning in whatever surrounds us.
We’re delighted to be able to share the video for the track (and the first ever video from Docks), so be sure to check it out below:
Cardinale Nord is out now via Hidden Bay Records, Discos de Kirlian and Araki Records. You can get it from Bandcamp, including a limited edition 7″ version.
Artwork by Manon Raupp