Made up from two songs and two re-interpretations of the same songs (all sharing the word “maison”), Honour before glory‘s The Maison EP. 

Like a flurry of soft snow in a cold winter morning, ‘Maison’ arrives, tenderly and in electronic form, creating a little atmosphere both melancholic and solemn. The re-interpretation of the song, called ‘Maison (players version)’ still follows the electronic suit, but while still being melancholic, it’s less solemn and more into the vein of 80s synth pop (a darker shade, though), with a stellar cameo by a very dreamy guitar. Both versions are good, but this second version gets the kudos.

If the EP started on a slow, glacial pace, then ‘The Maisonette’ is the spring in full blown. Taking a big cue from post rock, the fashionable track keeps its chin up, slightly swaggering but never being smug. Catchy and full of peppy energy, is a complete turn of the screw. Speaking of turns, there’s an acoustic version of this song. Gone are every single layer and all you have are the naked beauty of an acoustic and some foot-tapping.

It’s the sound of the same word, said with different intonations. “Friend” can be used as an affirmation of a feeling or the destruction of one. “Love” can be used as the purest of expressions, a patronising dig or a sign of caring. That’s what The Maison EP is all about: reinterpreting a word in different ways.

Words: Sam

Honour before Glory Website. Facebook. Myspace. Twitter. Last.fm. Bandcamp. Soundcloud.