Rite of Passage is La Vie Sauvage his second album, following up his synthpop escapades with industrial electronica. Based on the concept of a psychedelic trip, the album starts out light and makes a dark turn halfway, passing through euphoria, hedonism and openness, to paranoia, angst and melancholy.

Starting out with ‘Hedonism on Repeat’, he fuses an escapist theme inspired by post-pandemic chaos, a good dose of nihilism for balance and lush 80’s inspired vocals and production: the soundtrack to the last party on earth.

Following up with ‘Fluid’, ‘Act on the Basis of Love’ and ‘Only in the Moment’, things get more personal, and the teachings of a humbling psychedelic trip are translated into themes like openness and the duality of life; balancing between the light and dark.

Halfway through, the album makes a turn, going into more anxious territory with tracks like ‘Paranoia’ and ’Angst’, representing the dark side of hallucinogens. Finally, acceptance is established with title track ‘Rite of Passage’.

Having named the song Hedonism On Repeat and describing it as ‘The soundtrack to the last party on earth’, you’d be expecting something special and at times erotic – and boy does the song deliver! An ode to sensuality and stylish production values, every second, every element of the track smolders, as if urging the listener to abandon restraint and surrender themselves to the moment. Don’t even try to resist this song – accept what it has to offer and enjoy what it brings. – Analogue Trash