French New Wave films usually portray fleeting moments of human connection. The relationship start like a fairly tale (when two people are infatuated with each other), then things get complicated when they get to know each other on a deeper level (boredom begins to set in), and finally, grow apart without any defining reason. Inspired by this transitory period, Jordan Corso wrote Votive Flower with his band Cotillon, a seven track EP of fuzzy garage tunes that illustrate the difficulty of maintaining a relationship in the bustling urbanity of Los Angeles. The overall core of the record is informed by garage, but a closer listen unravels much more depth than it seems at first glance – the mid-tempo drive of "I Wanna Move to Paris" has a jangly, upbeat vibe reminiscent of Teenage Fanclub; "The Fall" invokes a classic country-meets-R&B dirge with its strained guitar licks, and "The Devil Lives in Lyman" has a strong pop hook alongside its old-school reverb drench. Corson’s snotty, disaffected vocals are the centerpiece in a story that brims with awkward, lyrical quips and lovestruck clichés. A sad record indeed, but its light burns bright.
