Parisian DJ and producer Ralph Maruani's debut album as Flabaire, It's Just a Silly Phase I'm Going Through, is house music at its core, but it's got an experimental edge that transcends the genre. From opener "Sweet Spot" to the album's poignant "Outro," the DJ layers vocal repetitions over symphonic backgrounds that are expertly propelled by slow synths and light but uptempo percussion.
"Saudade" exhibits soothing electronic elements that mirror the sounds of flowing water, a meditative aspect that he juxtaposes with frenzied percussion, a method that Flabaire uses often throughout the LP. "La Grève des Étoiles" is perhaps the loveliest of the tracklist, dipping deeply into the most layered instrumentals here, while songs like "Stars" and "Bruxelles" show Flabaire's experimental range, combining playful loop elements with whimsical synth variations. Hopefully It's Just a Silly Phase I'm Going Through is not simply a phase, but a standard he'll adhere to as he progresses through his solo career.
(D.KO Records)"Saudade" exhibits soothing electronic elements that mirror the sounds of flowing water, a meditative aspect that he juxtaposes with frenzied percussion, a method that Flabaire uses often throughout the LP. "La Grève des Étoiles" is perhaps the loveliest of the tracklist, dipping deeply into the most layered instrumentals here, while songs like "Stars" and "Bruxelles" show Flabaire's experimental range, combining playful loop elements with whimsical synth variations. Hopefully It's Just a Silly Phase I'm Going Through is not simply a phase, but a standard he'll adhere to as he progresses through his solo career.