Cesar & Alexia

Talked about that typical French early-70s bassline (luscious, poignant) in the post below; most of the time that bass comes with a plushy, also very sexy organ. Think the Bilitis-soundtrack, think Vannier and the Melody Nelson album, think Moon Safari by Air. And think this album by Cesar Precio. It’s the moniker of Brice Lenoble, also part of the band Biche (Air’s weird cousins). On his first album as Cesar Precio, he gets help from likeminded souls (Forever Pavot, Robin Leduc) and comes up with a soundtrack for silk sheets on a sunny seductive Sunday. Even the orchestral parts feel sexy (sorry for the overuse of the word sexy).

This duet (is it a duet? She talks, he sings) with Alexia Gredy is like a lost Gainsbourgian get-together; whispery, that bass again, spacey organ. Dive in this album, because there’s way more. Interview with Cesar here.

Mirabelle Gillis

Oh, that bass sounds. Phat, low, ‘plopping’. The driving force in many Gainsbourg(ian) records, and also in this single by Mirabelle Gillis. Who plays that mesmerizing violin, and sings. Lyrics are by none other than the great Christophe Miossec, tis not a cover, Mirabelle played with CM. And also with Alex Beaupain and Jane Birkin, to name but a few. This song is from Gillis’ newest EP; she displays a enormous talent of writing atmospheric tracks that, as I understand it, underline her mood for travel.

A duet with Miossec:

Coline BLF

New single by one of the most promising names in French music. Cool song:

Reymour

Swiss post-punk sweetness. Second time this duo (who release their music on Dutch label Knekelhuis) is featured here. Their new album ‘No Land’ has a strong Elli & Jacno influence (even Liberation thought so, see here), because Lou Savary sounds a lot like Elli Medeiros, and the music is a combination of synths and guitars. Honeymoon Killers, are also a reference. But Reymour are no copycats, they create their own weird little world, singing about ‘life’s passages through mist and clearings, delving deep into their innermost selves and emotions.’ Try this catchy track:

Quiterie

Never knew that ‘Quiterie’ was a common first name, I thought it was a play on ‘quitting’ or something. But researching Quiterie Goineau’s musical output, I found out that there are more Quiterie’s out there. But let’s focus on Goineau, who made an EP in 2022 with English and French songs, and has a new single out with a pulsating beat, angelic choir singing and her young, yet commandeering voice. Les Anges Fredonnait (The Humming Angels) is a short song, that leaves you wanting more. On her Instagram, she posted a clip of her dad, driving a red sports car. And she adds: ‘Je t’aime pour l’éternité mon ange’, which probably means that this track is an ode to her dad, and very emotional to sing.

Quiterie and her musical companion Matthieu Perrin are inspired (according to this playlist) by Lana del Rey, Beach House and Christine & the Queens, which is nice.

Clara Luciani

New album coming up! Less disco-influences on the new single, but that driving bass is still present:

Isobel Campbell

‘Toi’ by Isobel Campbell is the French version of ‘You’, from her latest album (released last June). Isobel writes on her Instagram: ‘I finished writing this song on 22/02/22. The day of Mark Lanegan, my singing partner’s, untimely passing. I’d been listening to ‘Anthem’ by Leonard Cohen on repeat, it was the strangest of days. Over the years we’d bonded so much over the work of Leonard Cohen. I still cry when I hear ‘Anthem’ even now. To have written ‘Toi’ on this date is significant. It’s a mystical, sorrowful song, befitting such a day.’

‘Maintenant ou Jamais’, released earlier, is the French version of her song’Do or Die’.

Juniore

Juniore, fine makers of ‘yeye noir’, have a new album out. It sounds, in a way, as a tribute to the darker musical heritage of Françoise Hardy (think the Soleil album, songs like Le Crabe). With widescreen undertones. This is one of the highlights:

Jungle by Night featuring Merol

Now this is an interesting combo. Dutch singer Merol, best known for her feminine and feminist dancetracks (example) is one of the guest vocalists on the new Jungle By Night album. This Amsterdam-based collective started out as afrobeat-heads, but quickly added various warm-blooded styles (and keyboards) to their mostly instrumental repertoire. I’m a fan, ever since their first vinyl single came out. I never, NEVER, imagined they would ever pop-up on this blog, but Merol cooing in French over a pink plushy JBN-groove…well, here we are:

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