Paradis, the gentle electronica duo released a new single/video last year. Loved earlier singles like Hemisphere and Garde pour le toi. The new EP features remixes by Superpitcher.
Rosie Valland
And here’s yet another talented singer-songwriter from Québec…
Rosie Valland’s 2014 eponymous debut EP was a melancholic and atmospheric collection of autobiographical songs that created a vista of monochromatic landscapes. With the promise of an album to be released later this year, she’s back with an intriguing teaser in the shape of her new single, “Rebound.”
Similar to the themes of the earlier EP, “Rebound” again has an autobiographical and melancholy feel; but whereas Rosie’s earlier songs were painted with a monotone palette, here there feels as if a hint of colour and depth has been applied to the canvas – there are deft touches of brass and a hint of fragility to Rosie’s voice that evokes fellow Québécoise Salomé Leclerc.
Mauve Lunel
Perhaps better known as a textile and graphic designer, “Le temps m’apaise” is the first track from aspiring singer-songwriter (and currently resident of Nantes) Mauve Lunel’s debut EP, “Décembre”, which is scheduled for release on February 26th.
The EP draws on her experiences of the last few years, split between the cities of Montréal (Mauve cut her musical teeth while a student at Cegeps – the general and vocational colleges of Québec – don’t sniff, artists of the calibre of Isabelle Boulay and Ariane Moffatt got their early breaks here), New Delhi (where the songs for her EP were written) and Paris, “Le temps m’apaise” is a calming acoustic folk-tinged pop song that highlights Mauve’s seductively hypnotic vocals.
Zaznavour
Compilation on Youtube of ‘Hier encore’, a tv-show with musical guests looking back on French chanson. With Louane, Claire ‘ohlala’ Keim and ‘Zaznavour’ (on 10m50s).
(thanks Mark Sullivan)
Unibox
The first French album to really make an impression this year, is the untitled debut by Unibox. Not the most convenient bandname, if you ask me. Google it, you’ll see. Unibox is a six-piece, three girls (Valerie, Alice, Adeline) and three guys (Loic, Theophile, Baptiste). As I understand it, Valentine is one singing the most tracks. The music has touches of early Air (Fille de l’air, Intro), classic chanson (Suis Moi) and restrained Moodoïd (i.e. less psychedelic). The voices, the duets, the gentile atmosphere, it’s breezy, upbeat (even if most lyrics aren’t) and, in case of album closer Cette Nuit, just brilliant. Listen to the full album on Spotify.
Sea, sex and re-edits
Because there can’t be enough discofied re-edits. You did see the original video for this, right?
Spotify playlist 2015
Yes, the New French Pop 2015 playlist is up: HERE
Je m’appelle Charlie
Four singers, La Grande Sophie, Jeanne Cherhal, Camille and Emily Loizeau, expressed their feelings about the slaying at the Charlie Hebdo offices in a song. Read the lyrics in this Figaro piece.
Marie-Pierre Arthur
Welcome in the 10th year of FillesSourires.com. Here’s a new track by Marie-Pierre Arthur. Guestposter Mark Sullivan has the news:
Et voilà – Marie-Pierre Arthur is Filles Sourires’ first new song of 2015.
‘Rien à faire’ is the advance track of her third album, ‘Si l’aurore’ (does the title remind you of anything?) due out on 17 February. It catches the ear straight away – and seems a definite move by MPA from folk-rock into pop. The beginning has a late 80s feel: it recalls for me the start of ‘Love Power’, the Dionne Warwick – Jeffrey Osborne number by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager. And it’s a potential dance track. It puts Marie-Pierre into yacht rock/AOR territory, Taylor Swift territory even. And it’s better than Swift’s own move from country & western into pure pop.
This augurs well / cela est de bon augure pour l’album.