A floaty, slightly out of tune Mellotron opens the debut album of the French group Extraa. It is reminiscent of the intro to Strawberry Fields Forever by and immediately sets the tone for an album full of baroque and psychedelic sixties pop. The Parisian Extraa was formed around singer, keyboardist and guitarist Alix Lachiver. The later, psychedelic The Beatles was audibly an important influence.
With their sense of style and a preference for Mellotrons, violins and vintage organs, the group is sometimes reminiscent of . Lachiver sings slightly veiled and exclusively in English, but the music of her band has an unmistakable, sultry and sunny French edge. It makes Extraa a welcome new indie band that is as nostalgic as it is fresh. (MR)more
