Musique

Quiterie

Never knew that ‘Quiterie’ was a common first name, I thought it was a play on ‘quitting’ or something. But researching Quiterie Goineau’s musical output, I found out that there are more Quiterie’s out there. But let’s focus on Goineau, who made an EP in 2022 with English and French songs, and has a new single out with a pulsating beat, angelic choir singing and her young, yet commandeering voice. Les Anges Fredonnait (The Humming Angels) is a short song, that leaves you wanting more. On her Instagram, she posted a clip of her dad, driving a red sports car. And she adds: ‘Je t’aime pour l’éternité mon ange’, which probably means that this track is an ode to her dad, and very emotional to sing.

Quiterie and her musical companion Matthieu Perrin are inspired (according to this playlist) by Lana del Rey, Beach House and Christine & the Queens, which is nice.

Isobel Campbell

  • Posted on 20/09/2024
  • /Under Musique

‘Toi’ by Isobel Campbell is the French version of ‘You’, from her latest album (released last June). Isobel writes on her Instagram: ‘I finished writing this song on 22/02/22. The day of Mark Lanegan, my singing partner’s, untimely passing. I’d been listening to ‘Anthem’ by Leonard Cohen on repeat, it was the strangest of days. Over the years we’d bonded so much over the work of Leonard Cohen. I still cry when I hear ‘Anthem’ even now. To have written ‘Toi’ on this date is significant. It’s a mystical, sorrowful song, befitting such a day.’

‘Maintenant ou Jamais’, released earlier, is the French version of her song’Do or Die’.

Juniore

  • Posted on 17/09/2024
  • /Under Musique

Juniore, fine makers of ‘yeye noir’, have a new album out. It sounds, in a way, as a tribute to the darker musical heritage of Françoise Hardy (think the Soleil album, songs like Le Crabe). With widescreen undertones. This is one of the highlights:

Jungle by Night featuring Merol

  • Posted on 13/09/2024
  • /Under Musique

Now this is an interesting combo. Dutch singer Merol, best known for her feminine and feminist dancetracks (example) is one of the guest vocalists on the new Jungle By Night album. This Amsterdam-based collective started out as afrobeat-heads, but quickly added various warm-blooded styles (and keyboards) to their mostly instrumental repertoire. I’m a fan, ever since their first vinyl single came out. I never, NEVER, imagined they would ever pop-up on this blog, but Merol cooing in French over a pink plushy JBN-groove…well, here we are:

Marie-Pierre Arthur

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:

Claude Fontaine

  • Posted on 04/09/2024
  • /Under Musique

Claude Fontaine (real name: Nicole Rosenfield) is compared to the big guns: ‘At times, Fontaine channels Jane Birkin as backed by Jorge Ben. Françoise Hardy locked into sonic reverie with Mulatu Astatke, or Margo Guryan making lovers rock’, says her record label. She has a gorgeous voice, and her first album was quite a sunny sensation. Her 2nd album is coming up, La Mer, and she sings in French (yay!!)

Meimuna

Beautiful new single by Meimuna:

Coeur a l’index

  • Posted on 02/09/2024
  • /Under Musique

How ’bout we kick off the new season with a solid indie-rock tune? By Bruxelles-Marseille-based band Coeur a l’index, whose first official single is highly charming (early Cure-references):

The band’s demo is on Bandcamp, HERE. By the way, ‘Coeur a l’index’ was an 1981 single for Muriel, in the Amoureux Solitaire-Lio way. See HERE.

Aud Rey

Pop with a big P, about an ‘amour avec un grand A’. Slightly desafinado, as we like it. Short but sweet, in any shape or form:

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