Ou Est Le Swimming Pool – The Golden Year

Releasedate: 25-10-2010; Label: Fire & Manouvre/V2
By: Sabine van Gameren

Ou Est Le Swimming Pool is a British synth pop band. “The Golden Year” is the band’s debut album, but also the last album they made in this setting. Vocalist Charles Haddon committed suicide on a Belgian festival last summer.

This is also the reason the band gave the album another title as their original title would have been quite controversial. The album seems quite light at first, the synths set an open atmosphere, but listening to the lyrics you might see another side of them. This moody side, often a bit synical, reminds strongly to Manic Street Preachers for example. Ou Est Le Swimming Pool have brought an ode to the past, when synth pop was dominating, but also remained true to modern times. They brought strong songs, very danceable but none of them are the most likely made chart hits. That has more to do with the nowadays charts, but as if the band would go on, no one knows right now, they could give a small twist to the catchy choruses and you see that happening too. Sad to see that someone so young passed away. The vocalist was full of potential and had a whole life ahead of him. The release of this album is a great piece for all the fans who can honor him with it.

Line Up:
Joe Hutchinson
Caan Capan
Charles Haddon

Tracklist: 01.You Started 02.The Key 03.These New Knights 04.Dance the Way I Feel 05.Better 06.Outside 07.Jacksons Last Stand 08.Our Lives 09.Answers 10.Get Along 11.The Curtain Falls 12.Next to Nothing

Links:
Ou Est Le Swimming Pool MySpace