Yoann Lemoine has directed some of the most visually memorable music videos of the recent year or two; creating gorgeous images for the likes of talents such as Moby and Lana Del Rey. Whilst also committing his part to the current pop scene by working with far less interesting artists such as Katy Perry.

Now the 30 year old French artist has moved his way into recording, adopting the pseudonym Woodkid, giving us his debut album in March earlier this year. The 14 track album is incredibly impressive for a debut piece. It’s sadly not too often these days that a new artist releases an album that is as satisfying as a whole. Vocally and occasionally sonically, The Golden Age reminds of some of the work of James Blake; however far less electronic in its sounds. Rather, Woodkid gives us a large array of military drums, epic echoing bells, soft pianos, trumpets and tribal drum beats. All of this blended together with his intoxicated French accent gives The Golden Age the feel of an album that would lead some kind of indie punk army against some sort of oppressive force.

With songs like Iron, Run Boy Run and Stabat Mater that make you want to stand up and cheer, the kind of stuff you need to listen to when you are feeling like a failure, when you need to feel victorious again. But the album is also delightfully  layered with other tracks such as Boat Song, Where I Live and the title track, The Golden Age, which are surprisingly sentimental, slow in tone and full of plenty of inventively emotional lyrics. These are the kind of tracks that you listen to when you get home wasted at 3am and desperately want to feel something.

The Golden Age is such a delicious album because of its diversity, and when listened to as whole it all flows together very nicely, taking you on a sonic journey through the mind of Woodkid. With his music he is able to conjure up images as impressive as the ones he gives us with his videos.

The album’s artwork and music videos were created by the man himself and will definitely please anyone who is interested in viewing an album as an entire artistic piece. With images that remind of ancient Greek statues and yet have their own clean, white, almost post-modern look. On a side-note relating to Lemoine’s art, his video for Run Boy Run was nominated for a Grammy however lost to Melina Matsoukas video for Rihanna’s We Found Love. This is perhaps another reason why the Grammy’s should never be seen as a real award.

So do yourself a favor, sit down with a beer, or even a glass of tea and cigarette and listen, watch and absorb Woodkid’s, The Golden Age. An exciting experience from one the most exciting new musical artists of 2013.

7/10

Anthony Wheeler