The Deer Convention

Because she’s originally from France and sings elegant baroque-imbued folk-pop with a French accent, Hélène Renaut garners many comparisons to Françoise Hardy. But comparative shortcuts aside, The Deer Convention resonates with the warm familiarity of subtle Anglophilia — hints of British folk’s magic and whimsy surface slightly in songs like the enchanting title track or “February’s Daughter,” with its detuned ringing guitar tones and chantey inspired narrative. Renaut’s sophomore solo album was recorded by Papercuts’ Jason Quever with an audio vérité approach — mostly recorded live in one take to capture the moment on two-inch analog tape. Renaut is accompanied here by Donovan Quinn and Jasmyn Wong, of Skygreen Leopards, as well as by Matt Montgomery from Adam Haworth Stephens’ band, as well as by members of the Mumlers, resulting in a gorgeous album that plays with absolute human chemistry. From the harmonious opening song “The One” to the spare and sprightly “Silly” there is a palpable sense of relationships among musicians and their instruments as well as a tinge of tension in their tasteful points of restraint.