Stars and Fishes

Fous De La Mer's STARS AND FISHES is a sleek and ambient recording that features the sexy voice of Sol Galarreta. Backed by atmospheric keyboard sounds and earthy drum loops, this music glows with a slow-burning intensity. Sung in both French and English, Galarreta's voice often hangs on major 7th and 9th intervals. This not only gives this album a romantic flair, but it also infuses each piece with a hint of jazz.
While best classified as electronica, STARS AND FISHES is enriched by the use of sophisticated harmonies. In this sense, composer Marko Bussian's refined keyboard arrangements match Galarreta's jazzy note choices. Further, the static dance beats that often mark this genre are avoided on this album. Instead, Bussian and company focus on musical development and song variety. "Le Reve Est Mort" is an upbeat tune that uses layers of keyboards and a funky drum beat to support Galarreta's dreamy singing. However, other tunes such as "Conmigo" are slow and wistful. There is also a strong Brazilian influence on this album. For example, "Never Stop Loving" and "Tu Mirado" borrow indirectly from the music of Astrud Gilberto, though Bussian's tunes are decidedly more cosmic and contemporary.