PM2
paris match
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paris match and I first “met” years ago in the middle of a six-hour road trip to Disneyland. I stumbled across one of their songs and was hooked instantly to their sound. Since then, paris match went to the back burners of my catalogue. Until today that is… Now, I have the pleasure to bring it to the front of your attention. I like to call their sound “soft beachside cafe”. Since it plays so well to the scene that’s in my head. I get transported to a sunset-kissed beach with warm sand on the feet and a boardwalk off in the distance with shops and cafes that capture the same sounds as well.
PM2 starts off with the same track that I stumbled on all those years ago. “Desert Moon” kicks off the album and already you are transported. It stands as one of paris match’s strongest songs and it shows. The warmth is kept consistent with the help of the Rhodes keys and bass, but the string and flute melodies give off a calming peace that wraps up the imagery. Not to mention Mari Mizuno’s vocals guiding throughout the track as well. She keeps her voice soft without compromising clarity and pulls it off perfectly. It’s a masterful piece of work. The arrangement keeps everything properly spaced and heard without anything overwhelming. That, itself, is an art.
I feel it necessary to mention “Feel Like Makin’ Love” solely for the love of Roberta Flack, the original artist. paris match’s version doesn’t quite hit like the original. A good cover doesn’t sound like a cover. And, unfortunately, that’s exactly what’s going on here. Even with its upbeat moments, it still sounds slower than the original. Flack’s voice in the original gave it a special sound. And when that happens, it’s easy for covers not to reach the same height of feeling. And besides that, “Feel Like Makin’ Love” is one of the shorter tracks on the album; definitely the weakest of the batch. In fact, this same track made a return in 2007 when paris match came out with another album of them covering their favorite songs. And it fits more there than it does here. It would benefit PM2 if we could just pretend that it doesn’t exist on this album.
Most of PM2 leans more to the upbeat side of things; however, CDG comes in to interrupt that pattern. If we were to keep with the “soft beachside cafe” vibes, this one definitely is being played closer to closing time for this cafe. The brush sticks on the snare drum act like a broom sweeping across a dirty floor. The piano saying goodnight with its sleep inducing melodies and runs. This one lands more on the jazz side of music than the other tracks. But still manages to fit right in with the rest of PM2. My only wish would be to have it moved to the end of the track list. Not only because of that closing sound we were talking about, but because of exactly how CDG ends. It ends with a beautiful resolution of chords and harmonies mixing the instruments and vocals. I believe it would have served as the perfect goodbye for PM2. And I love a good song ending. It’s just too easy to have your tracks fade out…
Bring back resolving songs!
While we are rearranging the track list, let’s move “Coffee Machine” too. This grooving dance piece should’ve been up closer to the front. This one is definitely more “beachside” than it is “cafe”. Like, I feel like I’m in the middle of a volleyball match where everyone is having fun but I’m secretly over-competitive and don’t want to lose.
This one really needs to be heard sooner rather than later. With it sitting second to last on the track list, especially surrounded by softer toned tracks, “Coffee Machine” feels out of place. And I actually like this one too. The kick drum keeps on with the downbeat and that’s what helps give that dance groove. Then there’s the keys with its housey cadence as well. It is, overall, a fun track that only suffers from placement.
PM2 serves as proof that paris match deserves their throne when it comes to this “soft beachside cafe” sound. The fact that this is their second album helps solidify that claim too. As we have since gotten decades of them growing with that sound. paris match is a band that I will definitely be coming back to and continue to dive into more of their catalogue.
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Highlights
DESERT MOON
KISS
Tsuki no Shizuku 「ツキノシズク」
COFFEE MACHINE
Kimi to Issho ni 「きみといっしょに」
Tracklist
DESERT MOON
KISS
FEEL LIKE MAKIN' LOVE
FM
CDG
C'est la vie
Tsuki no Shizuku 「ツキノシズク」
Mr.Seabed
COFFEE MACHINE
Kimi to Issho ni 「きみといっしょに」
