We @ FillesSourires love Marianne Dissard deeply. So when the guys of SoFar filmed her new single live in Brighton and asked us if we’d like the world premiere, we acted quickly. So here’tis, in all it’s rugged live-ness (if that’s an expression):
Articles Written By: guuzbourg
New Fanny Bloom remix
Just released, a remix of a Pan-track. Now Evidemment is even more upbeat than in it’s original form. Which is nice
New La Grande Sophie single
Mark S., our correspondent on everything LGS, writes:
La Grande Sophie is preparing a new album with concerts starting in autumn 2015. ‘Maria Yudina’ is the first fruit of her work, issued on 8 June as a single and a video.
Maria Yudina (1899-1970) was a Russian musician who interpreted her contemporary the great composer Shostakovich. She was both among the artistic opponents of the Stalin regime and Stalin’s favourite pianist – a record of her Mozart. Piano Concerto no.23 in A major was reputedly spinning on the record player when Stalin was found dead in 1953. Her story is here and here.
An excellent film about Maria Yudina is here (in Russian with English subtitles).
La Grande Sophie’s wide education – she studied sculpture at the Collège des Beaux-Arts at Marseille – make her always interested in unusual creative artists.
The song has some characteristics of LGS’s earlier work before she turned acoustic with ‘Des Vagues et des Ruisseux’ in 2009. The intricate backing with piano prominent at the end shows how her composition skills have moved on from her rock-guitar days. The long instrumental at the end is an LGS specialism – remember ‘Ne m’oublie pas’ and ‘Ma Radio’ on her ‘Place de Fantôme’ album. As always Sophie has perfect diction.
Also just released is the film of LGS and Christine & The Queens duet of Daniel Balavoine’s 1980s classic ‘Tous les cris les SOS’, performed live at the France Inter 50th anniversary concert on 8 December 2013.
I was able to watch this performance in the UK by single-camera live-stream that night, but the film and sound quality is much better on this Youtube version. That concert also included Christine singing LGS’s ‘Sucrer les fraises’ and Sophie interpreting Christine’s then new ‘Nuits 17 à 52’.
The difference in height, which leads to viewer comments below, is magnified (if you look carefully) by Christine (Héloise Letissier) wearing flat shoes and Sophie her ‘talons’. LGS is indeed tall, as I can confirm having met her. She is 5’10”, the same height as Taylor Swift.
New Rose video
More about Rose and her new album HERE
Rachida Brakni
Guestpost! Theo M. writes:
Recently Filles Sourires featured the “La chanson d’Hélène” version by Sophie Hunger. She recorded that cover with famous French footballeur Eric Cantona. Well whaddayaknow, Eric’s wife is an actress and singer in her own right. Rachida Brakni sounds almost as saucy on her debut (which was released in 2011) as her husband does in his duet with Hunger. Brakni, who’s of Algerian descent, delivers her songs with a dark mystique. On the album’s opening track ‘Je Danse et je Ris’ (try it on Spotify), and in ‘Terre Fatale’ she proves she masters the Gainsbourgian ‘Sprechgesang’ as well as her husband. Hopefully we will hear more of Mrs. Cantona very soon!
Céline Tolosa
(This guestpost was originally published on the wonderful Lie in the Sound-blog, and written by Christoph/SomeVapourTrails)
Every country has it’s own musical charm, in France it’s the ‘airy Chic’ that’s sprinkled onto songs by chanteuses from every generation. The graceful members of this guild can either sing saucy or sentimental, but in any case the singing floats at least a foot above all earthly things. As is proven by Parisienne Céline Tolosa, whose début-EP was released recently. The four delicate songs on the EP channel the charm from 60s French pop. Even the title track Covergirl precipitates as graceful as profound. Tolosa embodies a cover girl, either a Lolita or Femme Fatale from any glamour magazine. But behind the glittering façade of the Fashion Business lurks the realization that they will one day be replaced, when a slimmer model comes along.
The nice, for predestined humming melody follows with Rue Mansart, a rather moody piano chanson. It includes that special sophisticated French perspective, which is located somewhere between daydream, still lifes and tears in a buttonhole. Tu est fantastique is an airy number full of retro charm. Every French musical stereotype is confirmed here in distinctive ways.
Fais-moi souffrir is more moody. Céline Tolosa is singing with tender melancholy. Can’t wait to hear mme Tolosa on a full length album. Because, honestly, don’t we all need some disarming French lightness from time to time? I know I can.
Paul van Eersel & Stella Zekri
You know Ry Cooder. You might know Ali Farka Touré. You should listen to their marvelous album Talkin’ Timbuktu. Belgian Paul van Eersel owns this moniker, the Belgian guitar player Paul van Eersel sounds like a love child of Cooder and Farka Touré. Folk Afro-Belge is what he makes, indeed he incorporates folk and african influences. In 2012, he released an EP, featuring a VERY cool duet with one Stella Zekri. A song to see the sun set in the Serengeti. I bumped into Paul via Ivan Tirtiaux (see below).
In a few weeks, Paul releases a full album. Check his Facebook for more details. See a teaser clip HERE
UPDATE:
Paul just released this video for ‘Du temps’
Blondy Brownie
Blondy Brownie: A blonde and a brown-haired girl from Belgium, making post-rock tinged music. In French. With John McEntire (Tortoise). And Antoine Wielemans (Girls in Hawaii). And more guests, on an upcoming album. If this sounds promising, wait ’til you hear the music by Aurélie Muller (V.O., Soy Un Caballo, The Tellers, Melon Galia…) and Catherine De Biasio (Mièle, Kris Dane, Ici Baba, Le Yéti…).
More? HERE
Arnaud!
Adrian writes:
It’s been a while since we’ve heard from the marvellous Arnaud Fleurent-Didier, “Le grand dandy français”, whose last album, La Reproduction, we all took to our hearts. Is it really five years ago? Surely not. Now, it would appear, he’s back, with an amusing teaser for a new record in the style of a 1960s film trailer for Un homme, deux femmes. Singer Dorothée de Koon is still on board, thankfully, and it sounds simply wonderful. So sit back, enjoy the flight, and the stewardesses will be along with cocktails when the ‘fasten seatbelt’ signs are off…
French afro-tinged pop playlist (Spotify)
Need your help! Want to compile a Spotify playlist with afro-tinged French pop. I was ticked off when I heard Mathieu Boogaerts’ delightful ‘Le ciment’, then I thought of the afro-influence in Vanessa’s ‘Tu vois c’que je vois’, and of Irene Jacob’s album, and before I knew it, there was THIS playlist on Spotify. But there must be more French afro-tinged pop songs – listen to the tracks already here, and you get the picture. Add to the playlist!
Unfortunately, this really cool track isn’t on Spotify, but it sure is nice to hear it again.