Intense instrumentals and sugar-sweet vocals. These are, at their core, the defining traits of Call It Goodbye, the debut record from Deux Visages. Vocalist Daphney Hanono’s tone is bright and youthful. Its high-pitched nature is reminiscent of Kate Bush with the shiny new veneer of indie rock. The guitar, performed by Jack Chiu, is heavily stylized and unrelenting.
The first track, “Disengage,” is all about reminiscing, lusting for an unattainable past; this theme will become a hallmark of the album. The more subdued parts of “Disengage” feature only Hanono’s vocals and simple percussion, slowly building tension until the guitar comes back in and throws the song back into first gear. It’s bold, packs a punch and is the perfect start to an electrifying record.
After two more songs that, although wonderful, sound similar, “Missed Calls” introduces a dynamism that Deux Visages was keeping up their sleeves, ready to unleash at the perfect time. A tune so catchy you’ll be humming along by the second chorus, “Missed Calls” has exactly what the record needs a third of the way through its runtime. Hanono, supported by more exquisite guitar, sings about the ever-relatable feeling that only occurs after a particularly debaucherous night out.
“Fleeting Wishes” is more stripped back than its sister tracks but certainly no less interesting. A beautiful interlude transitions into a falsetto bridge, taking listeners along for an arduous journey. All about the pain that comes with change, “Fleeting Wishes” is vulnerable and heartfelt.
The final track, from which the album gets its name, is more rock-forward. The vocals have a deeper tone that adds powerful emotionality. It’s also one of the happier songs on the record, detailing a series of moments so beautiful that it becomes almost heartbreaking to let them go. “Paint me like a picture so I can stay stuck in time” effortlessly captures what it feels like to know that you’re experiencing something you’ll remember forever.
Call It Goodbye is a rockstar debut album. Each song has its own personality but fits within the greater collection of songs with practiced ease. If future projects have the same creativity, excitement and rockabilly as Call It Goodbye does, Deux Visages has a stupendous and lengthy career ahead of them.
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