EP Review: Coule

Born in France and now based in Aotearoa, Petit Choux is a multilingual songwriter who’s recently released her atmospheric EP Coule. Focusing on the simplicity and mystique of performance and emotion, it’s an eerie, unique collection that shows off her vast musical talents across its four tracks.

The title track Coule opens the project with relaxed rhythmic guitar, contrasted against a haunting, almost moaned vocal. Petit Choux possesses a voice that could lull a child to sleep, or a sailor to their death. This song’s dark melodies feel ghostly and sweeping, all the more powerful against the stripped-back acoustic instrumental, but in a studio setting rather than a live one, the recording could do with some more layering to build interest throughout.

Montgolfiere emphasises delicate plucked strings and shows off more of Petit Choux’s higher range. Its most interesting moment is the subtle ambient elements and echoes arising in the finale, welcoming more texture into the song. This song’s melodies are saccharine, dancing up and down scales, juxtaposing their lightness with the more moody tone of the guitar. This will soon prove Petit Choux’s greatest strength, as the following number Panthere similarly combines dark verses with a lighter, dreamier chorus.

Lastly, Mon Amoureuse immediately stands out from the pack with its much brighter guitar tone. Its sparkling notes feel like the first rays of sunshine on your face after a dark night listening to the EP’s more melancholic tunes. It’s a smart song order that highlights how you can practically hear the smile dawning on Petit Choux’s face as she sings this romantic closer.

Whilst in truth, Coule would benefit from making better use of the dynamic multi-tracks and full production choices studio recording enables, there’s no doubt Petit Choux’s songwriting is strong at the collection’s core. Her mystical voice and clever melodies show great promise in her work, and it will be interesting to see how her future music will continue to grow.