2024 new EP from this power pop / melodic punk band out of Lyon, France.

Our take: We’ve been following France’s Faux Départ for years here at Sorry State, and now they’re back with a new 4-song EP. The first two tracks lean toward the poppier side of Faux Départ’s sound, with upbeat tempos, jangly guitars, and plaintive melodies that remind me of Ebba Grön (and, by extension, the Vicious and Masshysteri), but also have enough near-twee melody to slot in next to Neutrals’ neo-Television Personalities style. The songwriting is great, and when that burst of lead guitar erupts toward the end of “Drone,” it’s a magical moment. The two songs on the b-side are faster and more jittery, and while the Marked Men are an obvious comparison thanks to the blistering hi-hat work, “Toujours Là” is a catchy enough song to warrant it. I think this band might fly under the radar of many people in the US, but if you’re into well-constructed melodic punk, they’re not to be missed.