4 out of 5

Label: Epicericords

Produced by: Various

A 10-years-in compilation from French experimental rockers Chafouin, drawing selections from their very first 2015 release, Le Froid Du Feu, on through their release from the comp’s same year, 2025’s Tout Ce Qui Reste. Chafouin have managed a pretty impressive feat during those years, always sounding identifiable, but – whether due to roster changes or purposeful genre changeups – always managing to push, convincingly, down one axis or another, of math rock, indie rock, krautrock, and so on. A central focus on melody and an appreciation for pairing somewhat discordant elements together to achieve that melody (gentle guitar playing with atonal synths or effects; sing-song pacing against some post-rock churn) is, perhaps, the group’s identifiable trait, though in general the various configurations of the act tend to maintain a kind of forward momentum and tighter playing style, situating the group somewhere between Chicago post-rock and college rock. This can tickle some twee at points, which, notably, is something 10 ans sets on the sidelines: the 24 tracks not only constitute a pretty good picture of the band’s various approaches, sequenced to show them off in due turn, but also conveniently avoid some less directly catchy or unique tunes. So while Chafouin always sounds like Chafouin, the selections here really sound like Chafouin.

It’s tempting to consider this “all you need,” and as a casual listener, that may be true. But the band does shine on album, where some feller filler-like excess and more abstract tunes make the experience as a whole more memorable. Additionally, while the sequencing here is smartly broken up, it is nice to hear the changes across entire albums – it’s a bit more purposeful.

Drawing heavily from Ca Suffa Comme Ci, Toufoulcan, and Trois, Quatre (and possibly some unique songs – I wasn’t able to source every track), 10 ans can serve as a great intro to a consistently great band, but even for followers, it’s an essential Best Of that’ll have you scurrying off to re-explore back catalog.