Steel & Velvet drift into dreamlike folk with the “People Just Float” EP

Steel & Velvet has returned with a mesmerising new EP, "People Just Float," a 17-minute journey into intimacy, solitude, and cinematic narration. Following their inaugural album, "Waiting for Some Warmth" from 2023, the band’s second EP showcases the trio’s creative expansion over the past few years. Adding a subtle but captivating layer to the EP, Johann Le Roux’s daughter, Jade, lends her voice to two tracks, weaving innocence and warmth into the overall texture of the project. This collaboration adds a fresh, emotional dimension that complements the trio’s acoustic core, further enhancing the cinematic feel of the EP.

"People Just Float" pairs the composer's interpretation of well-known and new songs with a short film directed by Loïc Moyou. People Just Float’s six tracks narrate the story of Joshua, a solitary man who lives in a cabin in obscurity. When a shocked lady tumbles upon him in the woods one day, his life takes a dramatic turn.

The EP showcases the pair’s capacity to integrate compositions influenced by timeless and innovative songwriters as collaborators with them. The EP immortalises the creativity of composers such as Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, the Pixies, Nirvana, Robbie Basho, Peter Ivers, and David Lynch. Steel & Velvet attempt to genuinely make these works their own, turning anthems they composed or participated in making into melodic solos. As soon as the initial tones complete the opening scene, Steel & Velvet establish immediate intimacy and openness.

The standout tracks also include a very evocative reinterpretation of Robbie Basho’s "Orphan’s Lament", a little-known piano work transformed into an exquisite guitar arrangement by Romuald (Ballet-Baz). The gorgeous guitar work by Jean-Alain Larreur on "Ring of Fire", "Silver", and "Lake of Fire" adds an unmistakable depth and texture to the EP, enhancing its already vibrant spectrum. Larreur’s intricate and delicate fingerpicking sweeps over the listener, wrapping the audience in a contemplative and nearly out-of-world experience. "In Heaven" closes the EP with a cinematic finale, suspending the listener in a vast, nearly empty space. All throughout, the stripped-down acoustic musical accompaniment leaves no stone unturned on the emotional journey of the sound while providing a complete story, paralleling that of the movie.

The EP establishes each track as a separate episode of his history, and Loïc Moyou seems to enhance this concept. This approach is a definitive declaration of purpose for a band whose identity is grounded in reality, solidarity, and inventive pursuit. With a duration of just over 17 minutes, "People Just Float" effortlessly conveys a sense of calm and omniscience. The album has an unmistakable message. "People Just Float" is a must-listen for individuals who enjoy quiet folk music, curious beings, and engaging melodies, as well as those who appreciate the duo’s ongoing exploration of their folky style.

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