Evan Abeele: a neo-classical composer. Denise Nouvion: a photographer. A recording name that's a dedication to German/British composer Max Richter's seminal work. Canadian duo Memoryhouse may at first listen sound like a lot of bands or projects in 2010, dreamy, lo-fi, based on blurred synth patterns evoking distant memories of youth, music reminiscent of an old photograph's fading colours. Still, there's something that detaches their songs from this year's predominant chillwave hype, and it's most likely the fact that we're talking about actual songs here. Memoryhouse are not only aiming at creating a certain atmosphere that carries the listener to a state somewhere between sleeping and being awake (the association that inspired critic godfather David Keenan to come up with the term "hypnagogic pop" in The Wire #306), but it's about having something to say, too. The washed-out melodies never get carried away, and above all, it's Nouvion's beautifully clear voice that makes the duo something very special among the rising bedroom projects, actually leaving Memoryhouse closer to Beach House than to Memory Tapes.
In a way underlining their intentions, their song Lately (Deuxième) is built on a sample of John Brion's Phone Call from his soundtrack for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the movie par excellence about the fragile nature of human memories. The new official video for the song, directed by Church and Steak, is a symbol-laden masterpiece, too.
In a new version, Abeele has removed the sample, without taking away the song's magic feel. Memoryhouse have announced the release of their aptly titled first full-length Looms of Youth for sometime this fall. Their wonderful debut EP The Years is still available as a free download via Arcade Sound.
Edit: Inflated Records has kindly asked me to announce that in addition to today's video premiere, the label is putting out Lately as a 7 inch, and apparently it's their first-ever release. And of course, it's a pleasure. So go here and pre-order the single, and you'll be blessed with a Teengirl Fantasy remix on the b side which is, experience tells us, worth it.
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