Since the band's inception 6 years ago, LES DISCRETS have been somewhat of a rising star in the Post Black Metal/Shoegaze world. However, with the band stating that they wanted to undergo a reinvention since their last album, many have been wondering what LES DISCRETS's sound will merge into. Enter "Virée Nocturne": their newly released EP. Containing three songs as well as a remix of one of the title song, this French duo have given us a little titbit of what is to come in 2017's album "Prédateurs" due for release in early 2017.

Starting off the EP we have the title song "Virée Nocturne". This is a slow, lugubrious, and atmospheric affair, with expansive and broody soundscapes. The anticipated LES DISCRETS sound we know is audible in the melancholic melody, but yet we also have new influences too. Velveteen sombre tones are bourne on soft guitar work, which is carefully interwoven with filigree celestial samples, tying ethereal realms to the world through minimalistic and down-tempo drum-work. Next up is "Capricorni.Virginis.Corvi", a brief but more percussively-driven song than we've come to expect from LES DISCRETS. This song clearly seems to be going for a more esoteric and spacey feeling, but has merely ended up with a chaotic mix of different influences, missing a key element which would help to bind the various styles together. Penultimately comes a demo version of "Le Reproche", it's raw structure hinting at what may await us next year. This song is a complete mixed bag of styles, all bound together with a red thread of repetitive electronic flair, and easily takes the spot of being the strongest song on the EP. More than that, following on from the failed attempt in "Capricorni.Virginis.Corvi", this gives us hope that LES DISCRETS will manage to pull of this melange of styles more coherently in "Prédateurs". Finally, bringing the EP back full-circle, we have the title song again, but this time in a remixed version. I personally prefer this version: this time round the song has a more polished and ambient feel to it, with its dream-like and airy soundscape providing the perfect ending to the EP.

Overall, on "Virée Nocturne", LES DISCRETS manage to create something that stays somewhat true to their roots, whilst at the same time largely dipping a toe into unfamiliar waters. I'm not entirely convinced that this new direction will be completely positive, as that will depend on how well they are able to tie together so many new and different sounds. Nevertheless, it certainly will be interesting to see what LES DISCRETS have in store for us next year.