ALBUM REVIEW: Deux – Moundrag

French duo MOUNDRAG deliver an eclectic retro sound without copying their inspirations verbatim while exploring a selection of off-kilter prog and psych styles. With a thunderous sound and a 70s inspired rock and roll ethos, brothers Camille and Colin Goellaen formed MOUNDRAG back in 2019, bringing vintage psychedelia up to date without a single guitar in sight. Using only an organ and drums, while sharing vocal duties, the two siblings bring the spirit of old-school rock back to life on their sophomore album Deux.

After a fittingly melodramatic percussion solo titled Stormdrummer to open the album, Deux begins in earnest with MOUNDRAG’s first true rock hit The Caveman. Thundering out of the gate with a breathtaking organ sting, The Caveman drags the listener on a hazy five and a half minute journey through time with the influences of LED ZEPPELIN and RUSH shining brightly through the whirling keyboards and booming drums. While paying clear homage to their vintage inspirations, MOUNDRAG manage to avoid the pitfall of becoming yet another retro cover band, giving a new voice to familiar sounds.

Although MOUNDRAG’s 60s and 70s inspirations are apparent from the outset, the duo do also dip their toes into more contemporary sounds. With just an organ and vocals driving the melodic heart of the band’s sound the Goellaen brothers force themselves to get creative with their songwriting with tracks like Limbo and Starkus folding in the modern prog atmospheres of acts such as THE MARS VOLTA and Take Me To The Stars moving their sound closer to the stadium rock of the 80s with rich vocal harmonies and a swaggering chorus. Despite their unique selling point having a relatively short shelf life, MOUNDRAG throw every weapon in their arsenal at Deux to keep it sounding fresh throughout.

While doing everything they can to work around their limitations, MOUNDRAG do run into a few hurdles which keep Deux from reaching its grand ambitions. Despite a number of standout moments there are just as many tracks which fade into the fog of whirling vintage keys, blending together and recycling the same handful of sounds, songs like Limbo and Black Flames bring little novelty to the table, wearing the band’s gimmick a little thin. Closing track Night Lights however, shows off MOUNDRAG’s ability to break free of their rock and roll bubble, delivering an unexpectedly tender piano-led finale.

For those who grew up listening to the greats of the 60s and 70s prog and psychedelia scene, MOUNDRAG’s second full-length album Deux is bound to deliver a fresh hit of nostalgia with plenty of swirling organ riffs and booming drums backing some powerful vocal performances. While not quite living up to the level of their retro heroes, there’s enough charm and innovation in MOUNDRAG’s throwback sound to set them apart from the countless old-school rock clones.

Rating: 6/10

Deux is out now via Spinda Records.

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