êve Party is a massive leap forward for Lucien Fraipont's Robbing Millions project-a bold collection of songs that are as boundless as they are meticulously arranged. Drawing from his love of French pop, American psychedelic rock, and the endless sprawl of jazz, Fraipont has expanded his sound in every way possible while honing in on the points of inspiration that keep him moving as an artist. These twelve songs are filled with wonder and discovery, suggesting a thrilling and fantastic future for the project as a whole.Fraipont's latest arrives hot off the heels of Robbing Millions' virtuosic second album Holidays Inside, a record that showcased his inventive style and overflowing fount of ideas when it came to songwriting. As it turns out, the tap never quite shut off as that record was being finished, as much of Rêve Party was written as work on Holidays Inside was winding down. "I didn't really stop writing between the previous album and the last one," he explains, and Rêve Party accordingly has the feel of an artist picking up right where they left off and never missing a beat.Musically, Fraipont cites the adventurous French pop of Air, the mysticism of Arthur Lee and his iconic band Love, Cornelius' frantic sense of arrangement, and the distinct synth tones of legendary jazz outfit Weather Report as inspirations for Réve Party. But make no mistake: This is the work of someone building their own musical language at every instant. There are plenty of stylistic head-turning moments-the gorgeous neon sighs of "Jabberwocky," the tricky rhythms of anthemic opener "Same Skin," the squishy balladry of "Not Around"-that sound perfectly paired with each other on this absolute trip of an album.Fraipont was appropriately inspired by the perceived limitations surrounding the city he calls home: "Sometimes I feel blocked by my own inhibitions," he admits, and throughout Rêve Party he digs deep while leaving nothing on the table. The loose-limbed psych rock of "Doctor" was inspired by an at-home phy...
