As the first, and to date only, Francophone band signed to Sub Pop (in the States — they're on Bonsound here in Canada), Corridor are ambassadors of sorts for Québécois music. It's easy to see what Sub Pop recognized in the group, who impeccably synthesize a handful of high-brow styles on their fourth album, Mimi. There's the tightly coiled syncopation and jagged guitar tones of Women, the hazy textural expanse of Deerhunter, and the harmony-drenched melodicism of '60s pop.
What's most impressive is the absolute laser precision with which these elements are deployed across the album's eight sweeping arrangements: the ping-ponging computer blips that bounce between channels on opener "Phase IV," the dizzy tap dance performed by the arpeggiator on "Jump Cut," the almost melodic quality of the jacknife drum fills on "Mourir Demain," or the rhythmic hiccups that artfully sour the blissful guitar of closer "Pellicule."
Every song on the impeccably produced LP is filled with such moments of delightful ear candy, which nimbly transcends language with pure sonic sweetness. Bonus points for the scrungy kitty on the cover.