Mortal Prophets – “French Summer”

I’ve been listening to this album on repeat for days now and I can’t get enough of it. “French Summer” is something really special that John Beckmann has created and teaming up with Anais de Nerval was pure genius.

It’s like a dreamy European vacation I never took on this whole record. The opening track ‘Romp in D Minor’ sucks you right into this hazy, cinematic world that never lets go. It’s this perfect flow from one song to the next, making this incredible journey through 18 tracks that never feels too long. This is one of the strongest releases by Mortal Prophets so far.

Anais’ voice is absolutely mesmerizing, she doesn’t just sing these songs, she floats through them like she’s telling secrets to old friends. John’s lush production blends perfectly with her vocals and these moments give me chills every single time.

It has this vintage French film vibe with modern electronic touches that shouldn’t work together but totally do. Songs like “Monaco Rendez-Vous” and “Saint Tropez Tan” take you there, to this world of convertibles and coastal drives. Then you get something like ‘Sommeil’ which is pure late-night intimacy.

John knows how to build an atmosphere, he layers synths, strings, and beats in a way that creates this rich sonic landscape that is both nostalgic and fresh. These perfect finishing touches that make everything sparkle are added by Parker Bryant on guitar and Richmond Davis on keyboards.

This album is going to be on my year-end list for sure. This is the kind of record that makes you want to book a trip to the French Riviera just to have the perfect soundtrack. Be sure to follow The Mortal Prophets on Instagram and check out their other stuff, this is an artist to keep on your radar.