While multi-instrumentalist Manuel Gagneux may have been made a star in heavier circles through his genre-bending black metal meets gospel and blues project Zeal & Ardor his solo experimental pop alter-ego Birdmask, which predates Zeal & Ardor by two years, has quietly been releasing off-kilter, experimental pop since 2011. Allowing Gagneux to lean into his eccentric tendencies more than his other projects, Birdmask’s latest EP Isolde leaves a strong impression, displaying a cohesive identity while soaring freely above genre boundaries.
Fans of Birdmask may be familiar with the broad strokes on Isolde with Gagneux’s crooning, melancholy vocals dominating the sound over hip-hop inspired electronic drums and guitar-led melodies. It’s clear from the outset however, that this EP is a more mature, developed version of the project. Opening track ‘Dial Up’ stands out not only as the EP’s most fully realised song but also one of Birdmask’s best to date, building up from understated electronic atmosphere and staccato clean guitar stabs to a confident, dubstep inspired drum break. While the rest of Isolde still has plenty to offer, ‘Dial Up’ takes a strong first step, offering those familiar with the project something to connect with before blindsiding them with a completely unexpected twist.
Elsewhere on the EP Gagneux explores numerous different genre conventions, from psychedelic rock to jazz, funk and ambient, creating a nauseating swirl of conflicting sounds that somehow comes together to feel cohesive. Where the track ‘Placebohead’ channels Hendrix style psychedelic guitar theatrics through Birdmask’s modern lens the song ‘Go Idah’ leans heavily into dissonant, shoegazey atmospheres, both manage to feel distinct yet part of a cohesive whole. Birdmask’s signature crooning vocals act as a lifeline, grounding the project, allowing the instrumentals to go off the rails.
The track ‘Chillig Jangle’ stands out as a firm highlight on the EP, finding the perfect middle ground between Birdmask’s pop sensibilities and thirst for experimentation. Carrying over his love of call and response backing vocals from Zeal & Ardor, Gagneux places this signature motif of his heavier project into a new context delivering an upbeat, singalong pop hook alongside smooth classic R&B style lead guitar lines and driving percussion. It’s clear that, while being an outlet for some of Gagneux’s wacker ideas, Birdmask has enough of a pop focus to deliver some seriously unforgettable bangers
While exploration is very firmly part of Birdmask’s blueprint, Isolde also contains some of the project’s most accessible and catchy material to date. Although unexpected, the feverish electronic drum break on ‘Dial Up’ is incredibly memorable, as is the funky, Foals style guitar riff backing percussive Red Hot Chilli Peppers style vocals on ‘Toucan’. These tracks show off Gagneux’s ability to write pop songs ready for the masses, complete with earworm hooks and danceable beats, without compromising his compulsively adventurous spirit. Blending together elements from whatever genre suits the moment with intellectual pop sensibilities, Isolde delivers Birdmask’s most complete experience to date. While a less creatively driven project would be content mashing together genre conventions like chunks of play-doh, Birdmask’s Manuel Gagneux excels in sculpting together familiar elements into a cohesive and instantly recognisable whole.