Le Concorde has always stood at the crossroads of elegance and invention, an art pop project driven by the creative vision of Los Angeles-based songwriter Stephen Becker. Taking cues from UK sophisti-pop, Stephen first stepped out as Le Concorde with his 2004 debut album Universe and Villa, reintroducing the high style and intricate craftsmanship of the 80s to the indie pop world.
He’s always surrounded himself with an enviable cast of collaborators, pulling in members from Scritti Politti and The Psychedelic Furs while releasing music on iconic indie pop labels March Records/What Are Records and Le Grand Magistery. Across a string of releases leading up to 2013’s “Let Me Live My Own Life,” Le Concorde became a cult name for fans of intelligent pop, blending melodic sophistication with emotional impact.
Then, he took an extended hiatus, stepping back from the music world for over a decade. His reemergence earlier this year was marked by the single “Corpus Christi,” lifted from his forthcoming album Second Mansions, set to drop next month. Second Mansions sees Stephen Becker expand his already illustrious circle of collaborators, bringing together an all-star ensemble including Pino Palladino, Paul Jackson Jr., Jamie West-Oram, Roger Joseph Manning Jr., Howard Gray, Jon Auer, Ken Stringfellow, Eric Troyer, Brendan Power, Ross Garren, Lewis Gordon, Ross McFarlane, Liam Bradley and Cameron Lister among others.
Now, Le Concorde unveils the third track ahead of the album’s release with his brand new single titled “Morning By Morning.” Brought in by the soft swell of instrumental texture, the bright stabs of airy tones add flashes of intriguing melody before the breezy plucks of acoustic guitar usher in Stephen’s expressive voice as he casts a mesmeric indie pop scene. Gliding with memorable melodic writing and shuffling rhythmic groove, “Morning By Morning” crafts a timeless slice of dazzling pop music that filters the artist’s retro influences through his modern musical lens.
Like the rest of the Second Mansions record, the track benefits from the same incredible lineup of musicians, but it’s the song’s extended outro that transforms it into something truly unique. Two of the world’s most acclaimed harmonica players, Brendan Power, celebrated for his chromatic mastery and collaborations with Kate Bush, Sting and Peter Gabriel, and Ross Garren, known for his work with Robbie Robertson, Bruce Hornsby and A Complete Unknown, engage in a call-and-response performance that feels truly cinematic in scope, closing the song with a spectacular instrumental finale.
Stephens’ own contributions are stitched throughout; guitar, guitar synth and additional keys all put his musical talents on full display while his vocal performance shines from start to finish. Paired with the single is a music video directed by Alex Cook which features shots of stunning natural settings cut with abstract scenes of Stephen and a mystery woman to add to the storytelling aspect of the visuals. With his Second Mansions album arriving soon, Le Concorde is set to make his full return to the music sphere in truly emphatic fashion and we can’t wait to see what it’s got in store.
Watch the music video for Morning By Morning below
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