Rennes-based, self-described feminist punk trio Île de Garde have an unusual configuration; synths (Cécile Aurégan), drums (Morgane Poulain) and low-key, mostly spoken word vocals (Klara Coudrais), but it proves to be a flexible and mostly powerful one. This six-track EP or mini album is their first release and it’s promising and varied enough to wish it was a full album, though not all its strands are equally thrilling.
Looking analytically at their songs, it becomes clear that Poulain is central to Île de Garde’s appeal. The synths are generally retro-‘80s flavored and provide the melodies, and the vocals range from delicate to imperious, but it’s the drums that seem most of all to determine the character of each song, with one exception that proves…