Lou’s dead. Here’s Vanessa paying tribute. More? Here.
I’m Gonna Kill You One Thursday
Absolutely no chance to overlook a bigger-than-life eccentric like Mathieu Aschehoug, and certainly we didn’t so – this time, think the rebel mind of Philippe Katerine meeting with the ghost of Alain Bashung in a Breton brothel once owned by Barbey d’Aurevilly. Of course, Aschehoug and his band Askehoug defy any pointless comparisons. Je te tuerai un jeudi (translation see headline), now finally released as well in other European countries, recently won the Georges Moustaki 2013 Award – another dandy, yo – for its sheer cool, cleverness and shit-eating grin. Aschehoug and Askehoug are touring France, Germany and Switzerland in the next weeks – your opportunity to go down in style and ingenuity.
Un Ami Américain
No, this is neither a French singer nor a French song. But it’s a singer living in Paris for years, an album produced in a Breton studio including a wonderfully sparse song about a fille Terry Lee Hale met in a Parisian café some time ago. Hale himself, a man of 60 years now, was Seattle-based during the high times of Grunge in the mid-Eighties, a singer/ songwriter in the wrong place at the wrong time; he never got a recording contract in the U.S. and was discovered by German indie labels Normal and Glitterhouse in the 90s. His new album The Long Draw is admirable stuff all the way, the work of an ami Americain, the last song Gold Mine telling a quiet, unmistakably French story of hello and goodbye.
Laurence Hélie
Another slice of sweet Quebec Country-Folk… sigh…
“À présent le passé” (“Right now the past”) is Quebec singer-songwriter Laurence Hélie’s follow-up to her 2010 eponymous debut album.
Whereas her first album nailed its colours unashamedly to a Western-tinged Country mast, “À présent le passé” is a far more ambitious affair. To be sure there is still a country influence, but this time around there’s an encompassing feel of pop, folk, jazz and blues. The end result is a far more expansive and accessible affair. Indeed the title is very much a description of the musical road this album has taken. While the songs are very much of today (“Right now”) and mine that rich seam of contemporary French-Canadian folk, there’s a solid foundation (“the past”) in the rich heritage of Americana – country, and the aforementioned folk and blues – that is evident through-out.
it seems that every great record coming out of Quebec this year has at least one absolutely nailed-on haunting ballad and this album is no exception. In fact there are two on display here: The melancholic and semi-autobiographical “trente ans” and “La rivière” – all piano intertwined with snare and base (again), which has rapidly embedded itself into my subconscious. It really is a beautiful arranged and soulful song.
Released at the beginning of the month, “À présent le passé” is an accomplished album containing ten polished gems from an artist expanding her musical horizons with some panache…
(Yup, another guestpost by Steve. Read his blog too!)
Cinema
This is nice. Cinema, featuring Calypso Valois, daughter of Eli & Jacno. EP out in November.
Dan & Alice Lacksman
Dan Lacksman. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, check out your record collection. Is Patrick Hernandez’ Born to be Alive there? Dan played keyboards on that. Is there an album by Belgian synth-popband Telex? Dan was a member. You know Lio’s Banana Split? Dan co-produced. Read the guy’s biography, here. Amazing, eh? Mr Moustache just released a charming album with synthesized pop, featuring a duet with his daughther Alice. Reminiscent of Lio (Jacques Duvall’s also present here), of Pizzicato 5, of The Lovers. Which is nice.
Peppermoon
Peppermoon is a band from Paris, that references to anything between Jane Birkin, Marie Laforet and a whole bunch of French poets, but in reality it’s Pierre Faa’s (aka Peter McFaa) world. The audience and singer Iris just live in it. Prismes, the third album, is just out With songs about Pierre’ stepsister (Frère et soeur), about how P. loves how Paris is empty in the summer (‘Fermeture Annuelle’) and yes, about sex. Pierre explains the song ‘Je te veux’: ‘I feel no opposition between spiritual love and sexual desire, they can have a dance together. Physical attractions are also lessons to be learnt. A passionate love is a self-discovery trip, especially when it doesn’t come easy and smooth. Wisdom may come from the most unexpected places. Why not the skin of someone you love ? It polishes your soul. ‘I want you, I want you, my plane happily flies in an iridescent saturated blue sky. I want you, I want you, you are my luxury good… and may be I even love you.” (Read more about the new songs on Peppermoon Facebook, HERE)
‘Je te veux’ may not be the poetic highlight of the new album (‘Arc-en-ciel-esque’ and the very Gainsbourgian ‘Chlorofille’ take that crown), it’s a hit. Catchy, well-sung, it tickles the right spaces ‘n places. Let’s call it a luxury good.
Edith de Camargo
Edith de Camargo is a Swiss-born singer, currently operating from Brazil. Her new, third, album is out featuring lavishly arranged chansons. There’s a video for Comme Un Rendez-Vous that’s either an ode to, or a parody of the nouvelle vague films. You decide.