Customer Reviews

Wallpaper for the Soul

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TAHITI 80
WALLPAPER FOR THE SOUL

"It's a definition of all music," Tahiti 80 frontman Xavier Boyer says, deconstructing the title of the poptastic Paris combo's second album, WALLPAPER FOR THE SOUL. "Imagine your heart as a house. Music is a way to decorate, to bring colors to your life."

In that case, Tahiti 80 is the sonic equivalent of 64-count Crayola. Wallpaper for the Soul is a dazzling kaleidoscope of giddy hooks and airy beauty. Melody and song craft are the primary colors, amidst a dazzling rainbow of orchestral strings, atmospheric electronics and an overall vibe that's both swinging and reflective.

"We always say we make more than pop," Xavier (pronunced, Ex-avee-ay) says. "We love '60s music, but we incorporate newer elements to make it interesting, whether it's R&B, hip-hop, jazz or reggae. Other bands do that too, but we try to make our own personal blend." On Wallpaper for the Soul, the recipe includes everything from the woozily rhythmic title track and the joyous bounce of "1000 Miles" to the majestic mope of "Happy End" and the punchy ear-candy of "Soul Deep."

Tahiti 80 got its unofficial start in 1993, when singer/guitarist Boyer and Portuguese-born bassist Pedro Resende met at the University of Rouen near Normandy. Classes were often skipped in favor of listening to records and learning how to play. A year later, guitarist Mederic Gontier came on board, while Sylvain Marchand, a childhood friend of Boyer's, joined up on drums in 1995. They were inspired by not just the Beatles and the Beach Boys but the Left Banke and the Zombies, not just Serge Gainsbourg but Sergio Mendes -- though the name was not an homage to Brasil '66 (it came off a t-shirt Xavier's parents brought back from holiday).

The band built its following at home with two EPs, then caught the attention of Minty Fresh, which issued 2000's full-length debut Puzzle, produced by Ivy's Andy Chase. "Timeless and lovley pop as refreshing as a cool aperitif," The New Yorker said of the disc, which was highlighted by the college radio hit "Heartbeat" (later remixed by Cornelius) and the wry, affectionate "Mr Davies" (which essentially re-imagines the Kinks legend as a character in one of his own songs).

"Boyer has discovered a secret history of rock where harmony, big production and bah-bah-bahs rule and every lyric is undertowed by a darkness...Bad sunshine for the soul," MOJO gushed, while others dropped names like Stereolab, Oliva Tremor Control and Soulwax (also a T80 remixer, as was house legend Todd Terry). Besides winning over critics and fans across North America and Europe, Tahiti 80 has become especially, pardon the expression, big in Japan - Puzzle went gold there, and
anticipation is already high for the new one." "They think it's better than the first one," a relieved Boyer reports.

"We really wanted Wallpaper... to be different from Puzzle, he continues. "Different direction, different dynamics, different voicings, different lyrics. We were more focused on experimentation, because we had more ideas about what to do this time." Even on Puzzle, the band had left behind its original guitar-based, Stone Roses/Teenage Fan Club template for more sophisticated instrumentation, with all four members branching out on keyboards or programming. Having a comfort zone in the studio allowed the band to take its sonic adventuring up another level. This time, they produced as well, in partnership with Chase. "He's like the fifth member of the band," Boyer says. "In the band, but also outside it, so you always have perspective on the tracks."

One of the most thrilling aspects of recording Wallpaper... was a collaboration with arranger Richard Hewson, a one-time George Martin associate. "We were big fans of the first James Taylor record, which was released on Apple, and always wanted to work with him," Boyer says. "It was only after we contacted him that we found out he also worked on Let It Be.

Hewson did his magic on five songs, recorded at hallowed Olympic Studios in London, host to Hendrix, the Stones and many others back in its heyday. The band also found themselves recording in New York City, Portland and a seaside country house in France. "The travel made it a good human experience too," Boyer says. "We crossed the Atlantic and the Channel many times. When we look back at this record there will be a lot of great memories."

And a lot of great songs. The heart-swelling, horn-swollen "Soul Deep" stands out as a single-of-the-year candidate, with a joyous Stax-meets-bubblegum feel that's part Memphis Flyers, part Boo Radleys. "It's definitely a take on soul music," Boyer says, "but at the same time soul music can be Daniel Johnston, or Wire - anything that sends an emotion to the listener."

Of course, that's what Boyer wants to do as well. "This very personal story may only make sense to me," he croons on the album-closer "Memories of the Past," but his vivid, heartfelt, sometimes downbeat words have quite the opposite effect. Boyer himself feels the lyrics on Wallpaper... are more mature and better crafted than earlier attempts. He has said that pop music simply sounds better in English, just like bossa nova sounds better in Portuguese, but also finds writing in a second language more creatively intriguing. "It's easier for me to express my feelings in English. There are no rules, I can say whatever I want. I'm like another person."

Ultimately, "Memories of the Past" dissolves into a reprise of the title track, which serves to frame the album's informal concept -- "a day in the life" of music, sound and soul. "Every song talks about a different feeling," Boyer says. "With Wallpaper... it's like you're in a dream, then with "1000 Times," you're waking up, the day starts. After that, all the songs are different emotions you would feel in one day. By 'Memories of the Past,' you're back home, about to go to bed, facing the ceiling alone in the dark. And then it ends again with Wallpaper... -- back to the dream."

On first listen, I'd say this is one of the most well-crafted indie-pop albums I've heard since "Life" by The Cardigans. Definately the best release by Tahiti 80 so far. I'm really impressed by this album because it retains the best aspects of their previous release while carrying over none of the drawbacks. The last album had summery melodies and warm harmonies, but sometimes suffered from being too sappy. The lyrics could also be cheesy at times. But on the new album, the sound is just as "feel good" with a continuation of the good melodies that define this band and this genre of music, but their sound and musicianship is now more refined and mature, as is the songwriting. They have made a good use of strings and electronics to accent their music without overdoing it(like the latest Flaming Lips album). This album shows a nice growth from their last one. Only way that this is album is worse than "Puzzle" is in the cover art work. It's always great to see a band you like improve from album to album. Definately an essential addition to my growing indie-pop collection.

Ok, I'm going to keep this short because if you want the LONG VERSION, check out another review (there's a novel-length review on the site here somewhere).

I love this album. It's a new sound, it's got a refreshing tone, and it transcends the lines of genre nicely. The songs have a refreshing pop sensibility with a touch of almost techno sound to them at times. They also have intelligent and interesting lyrics.

This and all the other Tahiti 80 Albums are things that I really do enjoy, but I can admit that they're not for everyone. I have numerous friends who don't like how mellow this album is, but I'd have to say that usually, it's the least open-minded people I know with regards to music, and/or the ones who have tastes that make me want to vomit.

I guess you could say that if you're into the music that you regularly hear on the "rock" stations, you should look somewhere else. Comparitively, this is a somewhat experimental pop album, but when i mean pop, I'm talking about high quality, poppy music, not the generic "lovey-dovey n'sync/brittney spears/New kids on the block/I think I just puked on my shoes" pop. Really, this music to some extent invokes the Beatles to me in that it's experimental, not like much of anything else before it, and just fantastically written and performed.

This is just good music and worth checking out.

Channeling the ghost of Prefab Sprout, Tahiti 80 melds Bacharachian songcraft, fey vocals, psychedelic ring modulations, and up-with-people lyrics to create an aural screen-saver of dust motes in sunlight, with the best track being the pumping "Soul Connection."

Did you ever hear the delightful "Mr. Davies" off the Puzzle LP? That's what Tahiti 80 CAN do that not many others can. That song alone is enough to convince you that they have real poetic and musical genius. Then there's "John Steed" (from the "Extra Pieces" EP), lyrically both beautifully crafted and charming, even funny. There is a droll (yet sincere), tongue-in-cheek approach in their first two records which I've just not found in "Wallpaper".
That said, I keep litening to the title track, "Fun Fair", and "The Other Side" and finding myself strangely refreshed by all three. But for reasons like melody, texture, and orchestration. The lyrics are actually not at all charming, for the most part, and some are just plain banal. It feels like it were written in a big hurry to me. Exhausted rhymes ("As I look back on some nights in the park/Strange meetings in the dark" "Your eyes are like an open book/One can tell everything from the way you look") drape over trite sentiment like bellbottoms over clogs. Ugh. I wish they had sung most of it in French, so that I could pretend to my friends it were as good as it sounds.
Because it sounds GREAT. To the usual (beautiful, fresh) poppy sweet melodies they've really experimented successfully with rich and emotive strings, some wonderfully frank and spare textures, and nifty but subtle space-whistles, Omnichords, etc. It's really gorgeous. Enough for me, at least. I just try not to let myself sing along.

The vocals alone are enough to carry this album. However, this album has so much texture instrumentally that it's almost as if the vocal tracks are merely there as another layer of sound. Imagine taking The Byrds, The Turtles, Phoenix, The Bee Gees, and The Beach Boys, throwing in some post-modern pop charm and mixing them together on a compact disc. This is that album. Great melodies throughout, catchy hooks, body jiggling rhythms...nothing harsh here whatsoever. What the college radio circuit has been missing out on for FAR too long.

I bought this CD based on the reviews here and I am so glad I did. This is a rare and wonderful complilation of music that simply makes you feel good. It is experimental in the same way the classic Beach Boys' Pet Sessions were - innovative and refreshing and nothing like you've ever heard before. Xavier Boyer's vocals are amazing - like audio sunshine for your soul. My favorite tracks are the pop-masterpiece "1,000 Times" and the lovely "Fun Fair" - I could play them over and over until the CD wears out and still not tire of them.

I can't wait for Tahiti 80's next CD to come out.

I got the first record and it was very much a knock out in it's own way but in the end, looking back, there are/were only three or four great songs on Puzzle.

The foundation was laid. The fact that Xavier is one of the world's great singers, and that the band has a great collective playing voice (that is hard to deny) were both well established and I was left to wonder what would be next.

Here it is man. With Andy Chase and Eric Matthews back on staff the boys got back into the studio and farted out another classic.
How do these guys do it?, how did they do it? Anyway, with an expanded orchestral vocabulary (thanks R.H.) the songs have gone through the roof and now posses the full realization of the music that many of us identify as the "good stuff" from the late 1960's/early 1970's. It's hard to believe that at this stage in the game we have a band of this nature in our lives. They are as great as a band can be considered after a second record.

This does not happen very often so we should stop and thank someone or something.

Record #3 anyone?

JA JA

This CD is liquid sunshine. It made me feel so good to listen to it. It reminds me of '60's music, kind of like Donovan (do you remember him??) . It is innocent, sparkling, iridescent, and refreshing, like sunlight on water. It is like a very needed breath of fresh air!!! I highly recommend it!

Wallpaper For The Soul is an incredible album of pop music that delivers a great collection of songs that feature catchy melodies and intelligent lyrics that resonate with a wide range of emotions. For example, a song like "Happy End" starts slowly with a piano accompanying the lyrics, followed by a beautiful guitar melody. A sad mood defines the first half of the song as Xavier Boyer sings "I know how the story ends, we are so predictable, but each time, your love for me, dies a little more". The song picks up near the end with a more upbeat outlook and ends with the words, "cause I know you understand, that we all deserve, just a happy end". Another favorite line is from the song "Open Book", "It makes you wish you were lost and never found, but your eyes are like an open book".

Other songs feature violins, flutes, and horn sections that help create upbeat or airy moods. There is a wide range of songs that can easily relate to how you're feeling, whether you're a bit down because of a romantic breakup or happy on a sunny day. Each listener will find a song that makes a personal connection. I highly recommend this album to any fan of smooth, relaxing pop music.

Songs to check out:

1,000 Times
Happy End
Open Book
Memories Of The Past

As a huge fan of the group Ivy, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Andy Chase was the producer of this album.