Four tracks of neon cool electronic pop .
Besson is from France but is now based in London. His voice is accented although it sounds more German than French, like a Teutonic David Sylvian with the tone of detached intimacy.
Besson is the sole singer on the first two tracks (Come Around & 2D Icons) but shares the vocals for the other two tracks. Overall there's enough variation to keep you hooked and Besson has clearly learned a lot from producer John Fryer who has worked with Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails and produces the 'Come Around' track here.
Norwegian singer Kate Havenik sings on A Love To Bleed which has a vaguely trip-hoppy atmosphere in the Massive Attack mould but is also highly reminiscent of Moby.
Less successful is Bruiser's rudimentary political rap contribution to the closing track Glitch. His rant contrasts too harshly with Besson's moody intro. Lyrically too it's very pedestrian -"I can't see the misery for all this machinery" - and the voice samples from a George Bush speech about the Iraq war sound like an afterthought.
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Besson's voice has a brooding sense of melancholy that gives a definite edge of darkness, a quality that works best on 2D Icons where a punchy motorik rhythm with guitar & keyboard flourishes provide a smooth surface but is jagged at the same time.
Releases of this quality should ensure he's in demand as a performer and producer.
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