Acorn - Vieux Loup

Facts Vieux Loup means "old wolf" in French, and, perhaps inadvertently, a theme of pregnancy runs through the lyrics, from the repetition of the phrase "long contraction" during "In Silence" to the image of a character sleeping with the hand on the top of their belly during closing number "Artefacts". Whether this was a conscious theme or not, it almost doesn't matter in the end, as there is little fun in deciphering an enigma if the enigma carries low purpose. After the confident aire that helped make No Ghost as good as it is, Vieux Loup feels like a regression, a "safe" record that fails to capitalize on the growth we were seeing throughout the Acorn's tenure. During "Artefacts", Klausener mentions "A congregation of distractions / Knocking at my door," and one can't help but wish he listened to them, giving a little bit more energy and interest to a disc that ends up being more of a holding pattern than a great revelation.