LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

• Label: Born Bad Records / Disque Pointu
• Packaging: Printed leaflet and download card

Originally released in 2016, Mystère is the second album by French collective La Femme. Building on the cold-wave keyboards, surf guitar and psychedelic pop of their debut, the group expands its sound through disco rhythms, orchestral strings, electronic experimentation and a broad range of guest vocalists.

The album revolves around the creative partnership of keyboardist Marlon Magnée and guitarist Sacha Got, supported by bassist Sam Lefèvre, drummer Noé Delmas, percussionist Lucas Nunez Ritter and vocalist Clémence Quélennec. Clara Luciani, Jane Peynot, Naomi Greene, Mathilde Marlière, Angela Hureau, Sarah Ben Abdallah and several other singers appear throughout, giving each composition its own voice and character.

“Sphynx” opens the record with hypnotic synthesizers, a pulsing rhythm and an extended psychedelic arrangement. “Le Vide Est Ton Nouveau Prénom” shifts towards melancholy acoustic pop, while “Où Va le Monde” combines a memorable chorus with a driving electronic beat. “Septembre” and “Tatiana” continue the album’s balance of romantic introspection and playful retro-futurism.

After the brief spoken transition “Conversations Nocturnes,” “SSD” enters a darker disco atmosphere inspired by Parisian nightlife. “Exorciseur” introduces scratches and a more abrasive electronic edge, while “Elle Ne T’Aime Pas” and “Always in the Sun” offer contrasting visions of failed romance and sunlit escape.

The second record moves further into the group’s eccentric musical world. “Mycose” turns personal discomfort into an unexpectedly catchy pop song, while “Tueur de Fleurs,” “Al Warda” and “Psyzook” combine psychedelic rock with cinematic strings, North African colours and dramatic vocal performances. “Le Chemin” provides an expansive orchestral passage before the thirteen-minute “Vagues” closes the album with drifting voices, atmospheric electronics and an extended guitar-led finale.

Richly arranged yet deliberately unpredictable, Mystère moves between synth-pop, surf rock, disco, psychedelia and French chanson without settling into a single style. This double-vinyl edition presents the complete sixteen-track album across four sides.

Track listing:

Side A
A1. Sphynx – 5:43
A2. Le Vide Est Ton Nouveau Prénom – 4:06
A3. Où Va le Monde – 5:35
A4. Septembre – 3:51

Side B
B1. Tatiana – 2:43
B2. Conversations Nocturnes – 0:21
B3. SSD – 4:30
B4. Exorciseur – 2:37
B5. Elle Ne T’Aime Pas – 3:57
B6. Always in the Sun – 4:06

Side C
C1. Mycose – 3:51
C2. Tueur de Fleurs – 3:41
C3. Al Warda – 5:01
C4. Psyzook – 3:22

Side D
D1. Le Chemin – 4:36
D2. Vagues – 13:01