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.
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.
THE must listen album of the week is the new Lou-Adriane Cassidy lp, ‘Journal d’un loup-garou’ (Diary of a werewolf). The French Canadian singer outdid herself, with creamy songs (as in: the instrumentation has a warm, late sixties/early seventies feel) and poignant, highly personal lyrics. Some danceable (title track, with folksy injections, also try the exuberant ‘Alépok’), some just tender and slow. Also very special is de duet with Ariane Roy, called ‘Ariane’.
Examples:
On her second album, ‘Belgo-Camerounaise’ singer and kora-player Lubiana shows her ability to be tender, poignant and danceable. She sings in English, French and Bangwa. She’s an avid jazz-fan (Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan) but also inspired by 90s R&B divas like Lauryn Hill. And, of course, by the African greats like Toumani Diabate. Terre Rouge refers to the red clay of Cameroon. Love that powerful, yet sweet smokey voice.
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.
Canadian bassplayer and singer Marie-Pierre Arthur was first featured on this blog in 2009 (see?), back then we gushed about gothic touches and Eno-esque soundscapes. Later, we talked about ‘angelic moods’ and nods to 70s glamrock (here). Pop from the seventies was, and is still an influence on MPA, as her newest Album Bleu sonically shows. This soft rock beauty is a strong example:
But MPA isn’t just looking back. This fantastic groove is a NOW song, with (dare we say it, yes we do) African touches:
Vif! is the new (ninth, if I counted correctly) album by Cherbourg’s Francoiz Breut. The first two tasters of the album were VERY good, and the album does not disappoint. FB never sounded so groovy, and early Stereolab seems to be of influence on her music. Which is nice. She sings about the power of nature, of reaching out and touching, the power of smelling. And dancing, I presume. This track really stands out:
Second feature on French duo Barbara Rivage (Roxane Argouin, Vivien Tacinelli). The debut album ‘Tout sera beau’ is out, and it’s a cool one. Fresh, bit dark, danceable. I hear Les Rita Mitsouko as much as Françoise Hardy (as Clara Luciani, with lesser disco input), but these two aren’t copycats, no sir. Love Roxane’s low voice, the funky basslines, the electronics. Two examples of their greatness:
Christine & the Queens was (not ‘were’, since it’s only Christine/Heloise) the biggest winner at the recent Victoires de la Musique, France’s most prestigious music prize. All winners here. C&tQ won Best Female Artist and Best Video (for Saint Claude). See her perform her #1 Hit in Belgium: