Meule

A strange feeling of urgency and euphoria — that’s what hits you in the very first seconds of “Dare,” the new album from the trio Meule from Tours, France.

Meule is, first and foremost, a formula: the guitar and synths of Valentin Pedler in a frenzied dialogue — not with one, but two drum kits, played by Marine Flèche and Dorris Biayenda. “With two drums, you can really play with dynamics — it’s so much more powerful. There’s also the whole polyrhythmic thing that happens when two people are behind the kits like octopuses — almost infinite possibilities! It’s a face-off between the synthetic on one side and the human on the other.”

With almost no introduction, we’re thrown into a joyful, electrifying sonic frenzy that doesn’t let up over the course of the album’s eleven tracks.

In 2022, Meule took part in the Inouïs at Printemps de Bourges, followed by the Trans Musicales in Rennes later that year, where they were spotted by Seattle’s ultra-hip radio station KEXP. They recorded a live session that has now reached nearly 200,000 views.

That success opened the door to tours all over Europe, as well as in Canada and South Korea. At the end of this intense tour, Marine joined Dorris and Valentin, following the departure of Léo Kapes. The band then regrouped in the countryside at Valentin’s place, driven by the desire to shift the needle on their influences.

Rooted in psychedelic garage rock inspired by acts like Osees and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard — the trio’s ultimate reference point — Meule has now expanded their sonic palette to include more electronic, techno, and even pop and melodic elements. On “Entre deux,” for example, Marine’s voice contemplates relationships in the age of screens — a track where Meule aims to inject a touch of softness into their vigorous rock sound.

“With synths, there’s always an element of randomness. The machine makes suggestions, and we pick a moment we like and start jamming from there. We always record our sessions, then we go back in, cut them up, multiply them, sculpt them.”
From a rhythm or a short theme, these three sound freaks conjure up their tracks like a musical version of a surrealist “cadavre exquis.” They even coined a word for their process: “meulifier” — a perfect summary of how they crush and reforge their inspirations from big beat, krautrock, or garage, all while preserving the raw joy of playing together.

Take “Lost In You,” with its heavy-hitting drums pounding through the ashes of a broken relationship. Or “Scop,” played from the edge of the dancefloor, observing the dancers — its virtuosity reminiscent of Soulwax.
Then there’s the hypnotic, Afrobeat-infused “Boston”, the catchy rockabilly vibe of “Termer,” or the romantic techno feel of “Green River,” composed on the Urban Boat between Berlin and Paris with Lille-based artist YMNK.

Throughout “Dare,” Meule takes us on a fascinating sonic exploration that gleefully defies conventions and expectations.

The journey ends with “Microtonal,” which borrows from Middle Eastern scales and features English-born rapper Miscellaneous (one half of Chill Bump) reflecting on the ongoing tragedy in Gaza.
The final track features the endearing singer and saxophonist Not Sure as a benevolent guru with a seductive baritone.
“We approach it like scientists in a lab — always bringing in new ideas, distorting them, embracing accidents, and seeing what happens. It’s truly a handcrafted process.”

“Dare” is a generous album, overflowing with ideas and energy. Never overwhelming, it even manages to show a certain lightness and finesse, with nods to the pioneers of electroacoustic music from the GRM.
A revitalizing record that leaves just one question:

When are the live shows?!