Paul Prier – Panic Peaks EP

Label: Recherche & Développement
Released: 17th January 2025

Paul Prier’s ‘Panic Peaks’ EP lands with exquisite timing – three tracks of crystalline French pop that alchemise daily irritations into pure delight. After years crafting hits for Christine & The Queens (the former project of Rahim Redcar) and Charlotte Gainsbourg, Prier steps centre stage with the assured grace of someone who’s mastered both gravitas and levity.

‘Dust’ opens the three-track effort with seasonal allergies reimagined as a whimsical tête-à-tête with nature itself. Prier’s delivery of “flowers don’t you dare make me cry” is charming, disarming through its earnest playfulness.

At the heart of the EP sits ‘Ease It’, where levity gives way to genuine warmth. Here Prier crafts a meditation on anxiety that feels like a familiar embrace. The understated groove and meticulous arrangement demonstrate precisely why France’s finest have sought his talents.

‘Back Pain’ closes the collection with a return to life’s lighter tribulations. The retro-tinged production suggests an alternative timeline where Air and Phoenix’s paths crossed in the studio, yet Prier’s signature touch anchors it firmly in the present. That the EP concludes after three tracks speaks to remarkable editorial restraint – not a single note outstays its welcome.

‘Panic Peaks’ excels in its transformation of the mundane without losing sight of either realm. It’s a rare breed of record, technically brilliant yet emotionally immediate, taking its craft seriously without sacrificing silliness. These tracks might not resolve your hay fever or straighten your spine, but they achieve something more profound – elevating life’s bothers into art worth cherishing.