More about Mon Réal HERE.
Loane
Loane is back! And she brought a truckload of synths and beats. New single Rien de Commun has indeed nothing in common with the acoustic atmosphere on her debut. She’s in sync with Poney Express, who did almost the same thing. Loane got help from guys who worked with Air and Tahiti Boy, which makes sense when you hear the single. The album will be released on May 16, is called Le Lendemain and from what I heard contains some very strong songs. I’ve posted several duets Loane did (remember that beautiful INXS-cover?), I recently discovered she did a track with William Fitzsimmons, a bearded singer-songwriter who sounds like velvet but looks like a cult leader. Nice one.
Loane – Rien de commun
William Fitzsimmons & Loane – I don’t feel it anymore
Julien Doré & Françoise Hardy
French it-boy Julien Doré made a new album, you may have seen the very funny clip that goes with single Kiss Me Forever. The album has several Gainsbourgian touches, you may recall his cover of SG’s SS in Uruguay on his debut, and the clip for Les Limites (that referred to a video Gainsbourg made for Chez les yeye’s). The deluxe-version comes with a bonus-disc with English songs, made with his former band. I prefer the French tunes, like the (again) Gainsbourgian Golf Bonjovi, the song Glenn Close (JD likes namedropping, like Vincent Delerm) and the duet with Françoise Hardy. Doré apparently has a thing for grand dames, he duetted with Sylvie Vartan and on his new album he also sings with Algerian legend Biyouna. In this interview, Hardy states she had no clue what the lyrics for BB Baleine are about. Makes two of us.
Julien Doré & Françoise Hardy – BB Baleine
Vincent Liben + Berry
Vincent Liben‘s solo-album was championed on this blog in 2009. Tout va disparaitre was a great way for Liben to let out his inner unshaven, smoking French guy. One of the best songs on the album was Mademoiselle Liberté, a duet with the lovely Stephanie Croibien (see video HERE). The song is also on the Musique Fantastique cd I compiled. As a teaser for the upcoming album (out in May), Vincent re-recorded Mademoiselle Liberté with none other than Berry. But this time, Liben sings the parts of Croibien, and Berry sings his parts. Intersting version, great to hear Berry again. Looking forward to her new stuff as well.
Liben & Berry – Mademoiselle Liberté
Lise, Nach
I think Cole Porter said it best, when he wrote: ‘I love Paris every moment, Every moment of the year, I love Paris, why oh why do I love Paris? Because my love is here’. Many, many songs were written about Paris, and two upcoming filles added their own: Lise and Nach. Sidenote: what is it with these young artists choosing hard to trace, or confusing monikers? Is this the influence of witch house? It took me some time to figure out that this Nach (see a video of her here
) isn’t this Nach. And Lise? It’s this girl, pictured on the left. Both released EP’s, Nach’s has slightly more songs. I think I like Lise’s Paris-ode best, because of the Camille-like vocals, not because of that English part. Her cover of 50 Cent’s P.I.M.P. is quite funny. Once. Maybe twice. But that video of her Paris song makes me want to jump behind the wheel and race down south. To be near, my love.
Lise – Paris
Nach – Ce soir, Paris
Jacno
Etienne Daho is one of the impressive list of French performers who are paying tribute to Denis Quilliard, best known to the world als Jacno. Once part of the Stinky Toys, later Elli & Jacno and writer of several French classics like Amoureux Solitaires and Je t’aime tant. The album is called Jacno Future, it will be released June 6 and sports covers by Daho, Thomas Dutronc, Dominique A, Miossec and Stereo Total, among others. The first single is Amoureux Solitaires, a duet between Daho and Calypso Valois, Jacno’s daughter. Who made her recording debut last year on an EP by Alexandre Chatelard, who sounds a lot like Daho and Jacno. With added Gainsbourg and Francis Lai-touches. Ssso seductive.
Listen to a remix van Daho and Valois’ version of Amoureux Solitaire HERE. See the video HERE.
Alexandre Chatelard & Calypso Valois – Reconstitution
Anna Järvinen
Lolita-voiced Anna Järvinen was born in Finland, but lives in Stockholm and sings in Swedish. Not French, no. But her music (third album is coming up) is very much inspired by Gainsbourg and the like, especially when you hear the gorgeous new single Lilla Anna. That church organ, that fat bass, those strings, the drumbreak – it’s a wonderful take on Je t’aime…, Slogan and other late 60s Serge. But it’s not a gimmick (ok, maybe the bird is), this is genuinely sexy. Video here.
Anna Järvinen – Lilla Anna
Le Grand Bateau
A girl singing a folksy tune in French, with added Hammond, clavinet, rockabilly-guitar and a nod to Yves Montand’s A Bicyclette. That you gotta hear, right? The girl’s called Aster van Vaerenbergh, who’s a very talented cartoon-artist as well (she made a graphic novel about Elizabeth Bathory). She made the drawings on and in the debut album of Belgium-based Le Grand Bateau, named after cruiseships that sailed the seven seas and had bands on board to entertain the well-dressed holiday-makers. LGB is influenced by classic chanson, tango, folk, 60s pop and whatnot. You can hear these are experienced musicians (pianist Yves Meersschaert was part of many bands, he also conducts the Propere Fanfere, counting 100 members! But LGB keeps it more intimate, just the way we like it over here.
Le Grand Bateau – Vava
Yelle
Yelle‘s new album is out now, featuring the great singles La Musique and Que veux-tu (both remixed to further brilliance, go here to listen). It’s even more 80s than the now classic debut, though no covers. As far as I know. Mon Pays, that sounds something straight out of the Vince Clarke vault of never-before released gems, is my fave from the album.
Yelle – Mon pays