Singe Review: Marc Houle, ‘Undercover’

‘Undercover’ marks Marc Houle’s departure from label Minus as he steps out on his own two feet with ‘Items And Things,’ originally a sub-label alongside Minus but now run independently by Marc himself, who is looking to make some big movements in 2012.

The first single from the album of the same name is due to be released on 5 March and see’s Marc Houle take a strong grasp of his new found freedom. Taking his sound back to influences from the Detroit parties he used to attend across the border from his Canadian home.

‘Undercover’ very much harks back to Marc’s routes with a rich 80s synth laden bass line that plods along beside a dark and metallic spoken vocal. At the four minute mark the track hints at building to something more, with a quickening synth that paces towards a supposed climax before the track trudges back to where it began. This makes ‘Undercover’ a gloomy affair, which far from making any effort to seize the listener, sits around about mid level in the distance leaving itself open to be overlooked by the everyday listener.

2/5

The album ‘Undercover’ will be released in March on Items & Things; the label Marc co-runs with Magda and Troy Pierce.

By Connor O’Brien
Twitter: @Connor_O_Brien