Multi-instrumentalist Marie Merlet has released a sophomore LP, titled Soft Centre, under the alias Iko Cherie, something like a decade after the first. In the space between Merlet has been far from idle, working with collaborators, including Laetitia Sadier, Gina Birch and Matthieu Beck, on musical projects such as Zooey, Mondade and Stereolab. 

The new album’s 10 songs – with lyrics inspired by Ukraine-born, Brazilian novelist Clarice Lispector, American beat poet Diane di Prima and Marine biologist Rachel Carson – are intimate atmospheres where Merlet’s vocals are warm whispers, which switch, within pieces, from from spoken to sweetly sung. The music demonstrating her mastery of guitar, keys, reeds and woodwinds.

The backing throughout is largely beatless. One exception to this is Half A Metaphor, which rides the reverb-ed tick tisch of a rudimentary rhythm devil. Everything, though, features a fascination with the boom of dub bass. While not reggae, roots-influenced – again with the exception of Ghosted Ghosters Of The Holy G’s gentle, leftfield lovers rock – Roland Space Echo washes drench the production. Has the record swimming in spinning, spiralling synthesised detail. 

The opening tracks are particularly tender. Drifting, dream-like. Narcotic. Some of it, such as Bilbao’s memories of former lovers, sharing a David Lynch-ian, noir / romantic quality. We Smoke That Peace Pipe adds exotica vibraphone, for a more folk / jazz / bossa nova feel. Tears In The Sea is a lullaby, surfing a tide of tinkling ivories and `50s rock ’n’ roll twang. Passing, perhaps, for Isobel Campbell serenading Nick Cave’s carnie as it packs up and leaves town. Merlet sneaking in snaking, psyche Wurlitzer / Farfisa flourishes. 

Iko Cherie’s Soft Centre can be ordered directly from Pingipung.