Marie-Pierre Arthur released an updated version of her Album Bleue, with four mostly acoustic versions of her songs. One is new (Brille Autant), the others have electric counterparts. The new versions are delicate like freshly combed mohair sweaters. I really dig the 70s referencing Respirer l’air, a solid track on the album earlier, now the focus is even more on the choirs.
If you see an album cover like this, you kinda know what you’re going to get, no? Eighties vibes, electronics, sunny splashes and computerbass. And that’s exactly what Napolitean producer Giorgio Lopez serves on his upcoming Sud des îles. ‘A musical travelogue, following fictional skipper Georges Taty and his crew of musicians aboard the sailboat “Sud des Îles”, caught between racing waves, late-night jams, and dockside dreams.’
Electronic dreams, that is. References to Italo disco, Jan Hammer, Kassav’ and other 80s zouk music, French boogie house and the like, and the cool voice of label mate Stella. Whose music has that same retro vibe, listen to her 2022 album HERE.
Canadian duo Bibi Club released a revised version of their 2024 album Feu de garde, with extra tracks. Including a Stereolab cover.
This acoustic version of Le Feu is very cool:
A new album by Lou-Adriane Cassidy, the Canadian songstress who delighted us earlier this year with an album called ‘Journal d’un loup garou’. ‘If that album was my psychotherapie, ‘Triste Animal’ is maybe my psychoanalysis’, she explains on her instagram. The result is 8 songs, recorded mostly live, with a soulful undertone. Very tender, very good.
Dub, wah-wah, echo, early synths and French femme fatale vocals. Art Longo is your new favorite band if these key words are close to your heart. It’s a duo, Gustav Jennefors makes all the sounds, Claudia Jonas (pictured) pouts, sighs and sings. Claudia made a few pop singles earlier, that aren’t that interesting. This is way more up the Filles Sourires alley:
Part English, part French, all sunny disco! Love the bass in this:
How ’bout a li’l twangin’ madness for your ears? This team up between Kill the Pain (=Melanie Pain & Phoebe Killdeer, also in Nouvelle Vague) and Danish band Powersolo sounds like the soundtrack to a long hard drive through the dusty plains. Play loud!
From December 2024, this EP by a2ele (Adele). Recently heard a track on FIP Radio. A2ele is a French singer/producer who counts Mylene Farmer, Rihanna and Kate Bush among her favorites. She first released music via Soundcloud, now there are a handful singles and this EP. It’s mostly electronic, there are 80s synthpop references, it’s dreamy, sometimes danceable and always sweet. Try this:
This track is so delicate, you almost have to wear gloves while listening to it. Such a gorgeous voice. That sixties, bass-heavy tempo. The misty horns! The strings! Tis the only French track on an EP by Montreal-based Sophie Perras, aka Fine Food Market. VERY up our petite rue:
Thanks to Marco Raaphorst for pointing me to FFM.
