More great French music

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Believe it! Found a couple recently, pretty new:
Keren Ann - La Biographie de Luka Philipsen (2000)
Keren Ann - Las Disparation (2002)
Coralie Clement - Salle Fes Pas Perdus (2001)
It can take a while for these things to (very slightly) filter over to the US, but I was wondering if there is any more awareness in the UK? I searched ILM and Keren Ann was breifly mentioned and compared to Portishead, for the occasional beats I guess, but it has obvious Francoise Hardy echoes and is more orchestral at times, more french singerish (would say folky but it isn't) than portishead, and anyway, I haven't listened to all that much portishead. But anyway, if you like FH's classic stuff, you will probably like it (more info at kerenann.com). Same with coralie clement, fantastic album, completely traditional instrumentally, with singing often reminscent of Jane Birkin, chanteuse and all that. Of course there is also Notre-Dame, but these two are major label and I assume somewhat mainstream (my French is a bit below average, and it's ahrd to find decent info on this stuff in English). Any additional comments are welcome but really I just want spread the word on these very enjoyable albums...btw i just looked, the Coralie Clement CD has been released on the U on Nettwerk (who also released the nice Autour De Lucie stuff).

― g (graysonlane), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 22:54 (twenty-two years ago) link

I've been digging the past two Paris Combo albums quite a bit. Basic beatnik jazz stuff, but pretty damn cool.

― Chris Barrus (xibalba), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 23:07 (twenty-two years ago) link

for keren ann related stuff, you should check out benjamin biolay as well. they talk of him as the new gainsbourg (which fits well with keren ann sounding like jane birkin).

― joan vich (joan vich), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 10:24 (twenty-two years ago) link

I think he had something to do with Coralie Clement as well...

― g (graysonlane), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 15:27 (twenty-two years ago) link

thanks, g. i will definitely check this stuff out!

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 15:53 (twenty-two years ago) link

Prepare to be disappointed by the new Keren Ann, Fritz.

The new Jane Birkin, on the other hand, Arabesque is quite intriguing. On the surface, it's cultural tourism at its worst - French standards like "Elisa" and "Comment te dire adieu" arranged for voice and a semi-arabic, semi-romany ensemble (some songs are with just piano). But in the end it sort of works. Birkin's singing has also improved a lot from the Gainsbourg days. Or perhaps it's because these particular arrangements suit her limitations in the vocal department.

― Jeff W, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 16:36 (twenty-two years ago) link

Isn't there supposed to be a new Les Rita Mitsouko coming out soon?

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 17:43 (twenty-two years ago) link

Yes it's already out - in France and Belgium anyway. I don't know their old stuff at all, so have nothing to compare with, but on the listening post at least the new one sounded pretty dull.

Forgot to mention earlier: I read somewhere that the latest Keren Ann LP is going to be re-recorded in English for UK/US markets.

― Jeff W, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 17:59 (twenty-two years ago) link

can whoever posted the link to ilxor from chauvinisttwit.com recently pls remove it? thanks.

― jones (actual), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 18:05 (twenty-two years ago) link

haha wrong thread DON'T FUCK WITH ME rrrrrr.

― jones (actual), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 18:06 (twenty-two years ago) link

heh heh, to quote ethan:

"and i was like :-O "

― zebedee, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 18:11 (twenty-two years ago) link

(me too!! sorry sorry sorry jeff w especially)

― jones (actual), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 18:13 (twenty-two years ago) link

no worries, jones

While we're on the subject of new francophone music, this recent comp is a not-bad-at-all overview of the 2002 scene. It's actually a German release, but seems to be available internationally.
http://www.musicline.de/de/product/673790001429

― Jeff W, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 18:28 (twenty-two years ago) link

The new album by Patrick Bruel, Entre-deux, is quite great. He does old French songs (1920s-40s), many of them duets, but messes with them just a little, every time, makes them a little more modern and weird. Plus, Emmanuelle Beart sings on one of the songs and doesn't embarrass herself. Ace right there.

― Matt C., Wednesday, 27 November 2002 22:46 (twenty-two years ago) link

Fave French music

Heldon (Richard Pinhas), Renaud Paravel (à la Gainsbourg), film music from Jacques Tati's movies, Miss Kitten and ...

Listen to http://www.novaplanet.com (Radio Nova) if you want to get a feel for French and good int'l music.

Yours
Jan

― Jan Geerinck, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 23:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

can i mention francois la roubaix here?

― gareth (gareth), Thursday, 28 November 2002 00:41 (twenty-two years ago) link

A 3 CD longbox of Etienne Daho song has just been released. Quite instructive on his career. I guess you just need to add the live version of "Week End A Rome" he did with Sarah Cracknell (who thanslated the song into "He's On The Phone" with Saint Etienne) and the cover of Saint Etienne he did later in return (I think the title is "Les Passagers").

There also was a 3 CD longbox of FH released recently.

The new Alain Bashung CD's just out, it's supposed to be great and quite dark. I've been told the new Katerine album wasn't that interesting.

Other names to check :

Autour de Lucie (especially the first album)
Ginger Ale (sung in english, with a good cover of Siouxsie's "Happy House"
Avril

Coming in january :

Suburbia (great pop stuff in english, indie pop meets Pets Shop Boys dancefloor mood... secret cult stuff recorded in 1998, they finally get the album out and will tour)

I'll let you guys know when other artists come to my mind.

― V., Thursday, 28 November 2002 11:17 (twenty-two years ago) link

Some names:
- Dominique A. (the beautiful Le Courage des Oiseaux 1992 started the new French scene)
- Françoiz Breut (ex-girl-friend of Dominique A., collaborates a lot with Tiersen)
- Yann Tiersen (Amélie soundtrack)
- Benjamin Biolay (new shooting star often compared to Gainsbourg)
- Bertrand Burgalat (pop crooner also compared to Gainsbourg)
- Louise Attaque (great indierock with occasional Americana touch)
- Tue-Loup (great slow sadcore)

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Thursday, 28 November 2002 11:36 (twenty-two years ago) link

Louise Attaque are in the French charts when they release a new album so probably they are not really indie.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Thursday, 28 November 2002 11:47 (twenty-two years ago) link

Suburbia (great pop stuff in english, indie pop meets Pets Shop Boys dancefloor mood... secret cult stuff recorded in 1998, they finally get the album out and will tour)

do you know suburbia?
i might be putting it out in spain! there is also a thread you can check from a few weeks ago about Spring (the previous band of the singer in suburbia).

― joan vich (joan vich), Thursday, 28 November 2002 11:48 (twenty-two years ago) link

one year passes...

revive, because i've just heard keren ann for the first time & i'm instantly a fan. she's playing lots of free shows in NYC over the next month, yet one more reason i'd rather be there than anywhere else..

― zappi (joni), Monday, 7 June 2004 03:31 (twenty years ago) link

eighteen years pass...

Three French playlists, admittedly more or less permutations of the same bands/artists, so not very broad in scope. It's all very obvious (and was probably compiled with the assistance of wine) but stuff I like.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4pMH6FE6n3sgbXxbiQjOOA

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7tyIXB6araH9DLobkjqoDF

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/59fJZf08BrzIkFsMAtxix7

Do suggest some tracks for Volume Quatre ...

― djh, Thursday, 16 March 2023 07:35 (one year ago) link

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