Pitchfork

Photo by David O'Driscoll

Unless you're knowledgeable about the French monarchy, you're more likely to recognize the name Louis Philippe from his work with the Clientele. The London-based French baroque-pop balladeer born Philippe Auclair is responsible for the string arrangements on his townsfolk's latest Best New Music-honored album, God Save the Clientele, among others. He's also got a new record of his own, An Unknown Spring-- a sumptuously orchestrated addition to an indie-pop career that dates back to the mid-80s.

"The Hill and the Valley" could be the LP's "Here, There and Everywhere": a sophisticated paean to idealized romance. Softly oohed harmonies evoke the Beach Boys the way more recent lovebirds the Postmarks have also done, as Auclair elegantly compares his beloved to the dichotomies of his title. A lush percussion section bolsters wavy guitars and sparkling keyboards. "Yes, this is what lovers do," Auclair notes with a wry falsetto. Sounds pretty good to me.

MP3:> Louis Philippe: "The Hill and the Valley"
[from An Unknown Spring; out now on Wonder]