French ‘dreamgaze’ duo Cløudy Skies don’t leave anything to the imagination on their debut offering, Changes. By which I mean, you as a listener are never left wondering ‘what if they did this, or what if they tried that?’ because it’s quite clear that the band have already had that internal conversation and have, indeed, already tried both ‘this’ and ‘that’ – repeatedly.

There’s a bewildering amount to take in on Changes, meaning that this isn’t a record you’ll be able to label ‘keeper’ or consign to the digital dustbin after just a couple of listens; Lionel Forest and Nicolas Simon leave literally no stone unturned in their quest to deliver an album of infinite possibility, but at times you find yourself wishing they’d just keep things a little simpler every now and then.

For the most part dreamgaze seems to be an amalgamation of blackened post metal and somnolent eighties pop, although final track Haze Is On The Way tips it’s chapeau at least in part to Pink Floyd in their seventies pomp. At it’s best, on the late appearing duo of Gleams and Ghosts and Stars Still Shine, the pair show a firm grasp of dynamics and melody, with the latter track especially holding the listener in it’s thrall through a combination of tantalising melody heavily redolent of prime time Tears For Fears and swathes of sheet metal guitar.  It’s a very winning combination indeed, and it’s a format I hope Forest and Simon deem worthy of revisiting on subsequent releases.

Cløudy Skies have come up with a challenging album here, but it perhaps falls between too many stalls to establish itself within a clearly defined audience. That might, of course, have been the intention, and there are certainly enough plus points in evidence to warrant further inspection as the band progresses it’s vision moving forward.  But it’s certainly worth a listen – dig in and see what you think.

Changes is out now.