François Virot - Yes or No

Lyon's François Virot recorded Yes or No, his debut, between drumming stints with other projects No Snow and Clara Clara. Its ten tracks, created from the basic palette of Virot's idiosyncratic voice, acoustic guitar and his brother's insistent handclaps, are laid-back and summery in tone. So far, so Jack Johnson. Yet songs such as Not The One have a wistful quality steeped in late August’s nostalgia rather than July’s bright optimism. Like Elliott Smith before him, Virot has a knack for unfolding rich and persistent melodies from his guitar. However, this startling depth is dulled by his limited mewl, which initially charms but steadily loses its appeal. By the end of the record, the quirky vocals combined with the endless humid guitar patterns render Yes or No no more than a sunburnt curio, to be lifted in June and left behind in September, wasting its initial promise. [Gillian Watson]