French musician Oklou recently released a four-song expansion of her alt-pop LP “choke enough,” which came out earlier this year. The deluxe record, launched on Oct. 30, adds four new singles to the relaxing melodies of the original 13-song tracklist. Despite suffering from a repetitive sound, “choke enough (Deluxe)” leverages lo-fi aesthetics and electroacoustic instrumentals to lull listeners into a misty reverie.
The up-and-coming artist has turned heads with her avant-garde sound and ethereal vocals. Classically trained in piano and cello, she has produced and composed her own music for years, releasing her debut EP in 2014. This depth of experience shines throughout the tracklist of “choke enough (Deluxe).”
Of the more melodic tracks, “blade bird” — the 13th track on the original album — stands out. The song opens with the static hiss of vinyl, complemented by Oklou vocalizing between steady strums of guitar. She wistfully sings, “You’re so cute, my blade is on the bird (Blade is on the bird) / I’ll be the one who ends up getting hurt (Ends up getting hurt),” her voice echoing and dissolving — a unique aspect of this track. The song’s addictive, breezy atmosphere differentiates it from the rest of the album.
Pure vocal excellence amplified by arpeggiated synths carries the listener into the first of the four added tracks, “viscus (feat. FKA twigs),” which tackles body image. British singer FKA twigs’s delicate vocals embody vulnerability and corporeal fragility as she sings the lyrics, “Avoiding myself naked in the bath / Just to touch my body in the dark / I wanna find a place to feel alive.”
Embracing electronic pop and indie R&B, “harvest sky (feat. underscores)” is another successful collaboration. Although slightly repetitive — the line “in the night, slow dance for a harvest sky” reverberates throughout — the song remains engaging thanks to singer-songwriter underscores’s verse. The lines “and with no one around me, I come alive / At this age, I wouldn’t want to be invited anyway,” add much-needed depth.
The charm of the last track, “dance 2,” is slightly dulled by its repetitiveness. Spanning four minutes and 51 seconds, the song pulses with nonstop energy and electricity, but it lacks variation. Although the track is infectious and surprisingly catchy, it would benefit from a shorter duration or a guest feature.
Despite the LP’s high production quality, “choke enough (Deluxe)” has a limited repertoire. Though a few tracks flirt with club hyperpop, the rest are somewhat monotonous. The record prioritizes ambience over memorability, opting for hypnotic lo-fi beats over high-energy choruses. Indeed, tracks like “the fishsong unplugged,” “what’s good” and “endless” set the mood for a midday nap. But even though the songs may not be climactic, their bittersweet lyrics plunge the listener into an ocean of sentimentality.
Overall, the album’s blurry mélange of quiet synths, orchestral textures and shades of blue fosters a relaxing aural experience for listeners. While Oklou’s sonic landscape may be muted, hazy and repetitive, it certainly glows.
