Ok so it is refreshing that the finicky US market is finally seriously considering dating the genre of Electropop music. Being of the nintendo generation, I consider Electropop quite refreshing to listen to as it reminds me of my childhood i.e. background music to Mega Man and sort of mindfucks me usually while I’m out at some club. There’s nothing like dancing and flirting cocktail in hand and all of a sudden having a vague auditory 6th grade flashback. Jolly Good Fun!

However, we must remember and give massive credit to European artists and audiences for the nurturing of this genre. Since the 80’s artists like Britain’s Pet Shop Boys pushed on and paved they way for us Sega kids to boogie like 1980-whatev. The genre had a decent start in the US but soon phased out. While abandoned by all but black culture especially in Detroit, electropop under went a long incubation period abroad. This was good considering and thank god for it’s return.

I’m sorry but it should be at least a misdemeanor to be out at a club and have only Trance and Reggaeton as dance options, especially when you aren’t in the mood for either. I’m not hating on those genres, but seriously we’re sufferin out in NYC! Fortunately, now we even have a chart topping artist here from NYC who speaks electropop. To date Lady Gaga has been just the right American counterpart to hand the electropop baton to. Yet, before we break out the ticker tape and grant her some major primogeniture, here are some acts from across the pond that have been holding there own listed by country:

France:

Miss Kittin - A blip on the radar since 02′, the eclectic and controversial Miss Kittin rose out of the electroclash scene after moving from her native Grenoble to Geneva in 96′. After 8 years she had already become of Europe’s Electropop go-to gals.

Rippin Kittin- Golden Boy featuring Miss Kittin

Miss Kittin is often remembered for this little ditty about Frank Sinatra entitlled “Frank Sinatra”

Yelle- this 26 yr old released her first single on Myspace back in 06′. Today she is being featured in Rolling Stone.

Je veux te voir- Yelle

Britain:

Depeche Mode- was amongst the first groups to ever be labeled as Electropop.

Personal Jesus- Depeche Mode

Pet Shop Boys were able maintain not only the development of their own electropop sound but a cult status amongst fans.

West End Girls- Pet Shop Boys

La Roux is currently the reigning British electropop mademoiselle de jure. With tight tunes and an androgynous look she keeps people guessing and tuning in.

Bulletproof- La Roux

Sweden

The Knife is a brother/sister electropop duo that has been breaking boundaries since 99′

Heartbeats- The Knife

The Similou dropped this song which may  or rather should creep in to your next affair

All This Love- The Similou

Germany

Electrocute which started in Berlin 02′ is a personal favorite. A hybrid of US and German artistry/sound, Electrocute blends synth sound with rock influence. I think they are just peachy.

Yelle fashion took us full circle a year ago as seen in there fashion styling, bringing the 80’s look back updated. With stricking block colours, neon and contrast colour. October has been printing 80’s fashion revival ever since for many very cool up and coming designers. Luckily there are no shoulder pads in sight.

Visit our main site: www.october.co.uk
T-shirt printing, screen printing, embroidery

Walking around my neighborhood, the east village, yesterday.

Bu kadınlar müzikleri kadar stilleriyle de dikkat çekiyorlar. Ben de bu stillerin arkasındaki tasarımcıları merak ettim, araştırdım ve hepsiyle tanıştığıma çok memnun oldum!

KAREN O / Christian Joy 

Müzik dünyasının stiliyle en çok dikkat çeken isimlerinden biri Karen O. Bugünlerde yeni albümünü beklediğimiz Yeah Yeah Yeahs’in kısa saçlı solistinin bu çılgın sahne kostümlerinin arkasındaki isim ise Christian Joy. Karen O’nun bir sürü renkten, grafik baskılardan, yarasa kollardan ve çılgın maskelerden oluşan sahne kıyafetleri birçok alternatif moda ve müzik dergisinin sayfalarını da dolduruyor. Tasarımcı Christian Joy’un geçen yaz koleksiyonunun modeli de aynı zamanda Karen O idi. Christian Joy’un sınır tanımayan tüm koleksiyonlarını ve Karen O için hazırladığı kostümleri görmek için http://www.christianjoy.us/ adresi ziyaret edilebilir.

 M.I.A / Cassette Playa

M.I.A müzik piyasasının stil ikonlarının başında geliyor. Sentetik taytları, sınır tanımayan renkleri, piksel piksel desenleri ile Sri Lankalı M.I.A’in 7 senedir çalıştığı moda tasarımcısı ise Cassette Playa. Cari Mundane adlı tasarımcının henüz yeni olan markası Cassette Playa aynı zamanda Afrikan Boy, Santagold, Skepta gibi isimleri de giydiriyor. Kendi deyimiyle “gerçeği hack’leyen”, neon renkli ve göz kamaştırıcı koleksiyonlar hazırlayan tasarımcının ilham kaynağı ise müzik, bilim kurgu ve bilgisayar oyunları. Tasarımcı ‘En Eski Gelecek’ temalı koleksiyonunda dijital resim baskılar kullanarak ID dergisinin ‘En İyi Erkek Giyim Tasarımcısı’ adayları arasına girdi ve Rolling Stone dergisi tarafından ‘2008′in En İyi Moda Tasarımcısı’ seçildi. Görülmeye değer web sitesi: http://www.cassetteplaya.com/

YELLE / JC de Castelbajac

Fransız vokal Yelle de farklı giyim tarzı ile öne çıkan isimlerden bir diğeri. Bir röportajında birkaç tasarımcı ile birden çalıştığını söylüyor. Bunlardan en belirgin halde kendini gösteren ise çılgın Fransız tasarımcı Castelbajac. Geçtiğimiz aylarda lego defilesi ve Obama baskılı elbise tasarımıyla oldukça konuşulan tasarımcının kıyafetlerini M.I.A, Katy Perry gibi isimlerin de üzerinde görmek mümkün. Aynı zamanda bir ressam olan ve Papa 2. Jean Paul’ü de giydirerek, kiliseleri renklendiren modacı olarak bilinen Castelbajac’ın tasarımları da pop art etkili. Yelle’in “Je Veux Te Voir” adlı klibinde rastladığımız sarı gülen suratlı elbise de Castelbajac’ın defilesinde en çok ilgi gören parçalarından biriydi. Castelbajac’ın tüm tasarımlarını takip edebileceğiniz web sitesi: http://www.jc-de-castelbajac.com/

PEACHES / Brian Lichtenberg

Sahne şovları kadar kostümleriyle de çılgınlığı bilinen Peaches’ın kıyafetlerinin sahibi Brian Lichtenberg. Fütüristik spor giysiler, holografik taytlar, parlak kumaşlardan oluşan tasarımlarıyla Brian Lichtenberg aynı zamanda M.I.A, Santagold, Yelle, Sam Sparro, Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne gibi isimlerin de takip ettiği bir modacı. Indie dünyasının yükselen tasarımcılarından olan Lichtenberg’in ilham kaynağı ise 80′ler. Peaches’ın konserlerindeki favori tasarımcısı Brian Lichtenberg hakkında daha detaylı bilgi için: http://www.brianlichtenberg.com/

SIA / Jeremy Scott

Renklerin cesur kullanımı, pop art desenler ve çılgın temalar deyince akla ilk gelen tasarımcılardan biri Jeremy Scott. Başarılı kadın vokal Sia Furler da kendine özgü giyim tarzıyla dikkat çeken müzisyenlerden bir diğeri. Modayı yakından takip eden Sia, konserlerinde de farklı kostümlerle izleyici karşısına çıkıyor. Jeremy Scott aynı zamanda M.I.A, Santagold, Björk, Kylie Minogue gibi isimlerin de takip ettiği moda tasarımcılarından. Hatta Sia ve Santagold’un bu birlikte fotoğrafı Jeremy Scott’ın geçen seneki defilesinde çekilmiş. Jeremy Scott aynı zamanda Ficherspooner grubunun da stilisti. Görüldüğü gibi müzik piyasasının en popüler tasarımcılarından olan Jeremy Scott’ın bu çılgın koleksiyonlarını takip etmek için http://www.jeremyscott.com/ sitesini tıklamak yeterli.

SANTOGOLD / Andrea Crews

Son zamanlarda stiliyle konuşulan müzisyenlerden biri de M.I.A’in kankası Santagold. Andrea Crews çağdaş sanatın ve tasarımın her alanında kendini gösteren bir sanatçı. Geri dönüşümü savunan; ikinci el giysileri şık ve özgün tasarımlara dönüştürmesiyle bilinen Andrea Crews, koleksiyonlarında çizgiroman, fanzin, punk flyer’ları gibi alt kültür materyallerinden ilham aldığını söylüyor. Başarılı Fransız tasarımcı ikinci el bir dede pantalonunu mini bir tuluma, bol bir sweatshirt’ü şık bir gece elbisesine dönüştürebiliyor. Santagold’un favori tasarımcılarından Andrea Crews’in tüm işlerini daha detaylı incelemek için: http://www.andreacrews.com/

can’t wait to make a video with this.

My life has been most exciting over these last few days what with my flying to Queensland for the weekend and such. I shan’t speak of my voyage though, for I feel like dedicating this blog post to some french nostalgia. My french expedition in the holidays has left me with a penchant for all things french. Sadly, here in Australia, there is little to satisfy this desire except with hours spent on youtube indulging in french music. Here are some of my favourites:

Gregoire – Toi+Moi
The french radio played this song literally without stop the entire six weeks I was there. It has really grown on me.

Yelle – Je veux te voir
I have been listening to this one for a while. The lyrics are a little crude if you can understand them, but the song is so addictive that it doesn’t matter.

Emilie Simon – Fleur de Saison
This was an internet discovery which I have warmed to immensely. It is very pretty and pleasant.

Julian Dore – Les Limites
This is my absolute favourite at the moment. Whenever this song came on in France my host sister would start dancing crazily and I never knew why. Then I watched the video clip and it all made sense. If you watch any of these videos, make it this one. Delight in the good looks and hilarious dancing of Julian Dore.

I hope that’s a suitable level of french for your day. It has certainly made mine a little more bearable as I lead my non-francophone life.

Le sigh.

Porque YELLE é o máximo! E anima qualquer um!

(além do que, eu queria morar nesse clip!)

Go fashionista Go!

Hace tiempo me habia propuesto para responder  dudas sobre rolas en frances. ¿Qué mejor que hacerlo ahora, a dos dias de la presentacion de Yelle en México?  Empezare con la primera rola con la que le fue bien, Je veux te voir, para que se den cuenta de porque el exito. Como muchos sabran, esta cancion fue con la que Yelle se dio a conocer, va dirigida a Cuizinier al que define como machista y sexista. Yelle decidio responder con el mismo tono. Algo que al principio era una reaccion en tipo de broma, termino convirtiendola en lo que es ahora, toda una frechie-hype-fluo.

Cuizinier avec ton petit sexe entoure de poils roux,
Je n’arrive pas a croire que tu puisses croire qu’on veuille de toi!
Je ny’ crois pas meme dans le noir, meme si tu gardes ton pyjama
Meme si tu gardes ton peignoir, en forme de tee-shirt ringard.
Garde ta chemise ca limitera les degats, batard

Cuizinier con tu pequeño sexo rodeado de pelos rojos,

No puedo creer que creas que estas muy cotizado!

No me lo creo ni en lo oscurito, con todo y que te quedes con tu pijama

Aunque te quedes con tu bata de baño en forma de tee-shirt.

Quedate con tu playera, asi evitas daños, teto

Je veux te voir
Dans un film pornographique,
En action avec ta bite,
Forme patatoes ou bien frites!
Pour tout savoir
Sur ton anatomie
Sur ton cousin Teki
Et vos accessoires fetiches

Quiero verte,

En un film pornografico,

En accion con tu verga,

En forma de patatas o bien fritas!

Y asi todo saber

Sobre tu anatomia

Sobre tu primo Teki

Y sus accesorios fetiches

Cuizi c’est quoi
Ta position favorite?
Tes performances olympiques
Mais tu nas rien d’orgasmique
Tu es tout nu
Sous ton tablier
Pret a degainer
Mais je t’avoue rien n’y fait

Cuizi cual es

Tu posicion favorita?

Tus performance olimpicos

Pero no tienes nada de orgasmico

Estas completamente desnudo

Debajo de tu delantal

Listo para venirte

Deja te confieso que no me sorprendes

Tu reves d’un Hummer fluo
Dessine par Akroe
Mais tu n’as pas le permis
Tu prends toujours le métro

Sueñas de una Hummer fluo

Diseñada por Akroe

Pero no tienes tu permiso

Siempre andas en metro

Superstar d’un soir ta vie redevient normale apres
Pas besoin de lunettes noires pour te cacher, personne te reconnait
Ta carte verte t’attend mec
C’est pas des paroles en lair
J’ai reussi à ten faire
Une avec mon scanner
L’entree est gratuite ce soir
C’est le seul moyen pour qu’on vienne
Alors les filles on se promene
Ouais on va aux chippendales
On navait pas prevu de passer la soiree avec des rigolos
On voulait voir des pectoraux, des mecs montes comme des taureaux

Superstar de una noche, tu vida es normal despues

No necesitas gafas negras, nadie te reconoce

Tu cartilla te esperando guey

No son palabras sin importancia

Logre provocarte una con mi escanner

La entrada es gratis esta noche

Es la unica manera para poder venir

Entonces mis chicas y yo nos paseamos

Si, vamos a los chippendales

No habiamos planeado pasar la noche con unos chistositos

Queriamos ver pectorales, gueyes montados como toros
Tes posters de LilJon recouvrent ceux de Magic Jonhson
Ton corps est trop crunk pour assurer les dunks

Tus posters de Liljon tapan los de Magic Jonhson

Tu cuerpo esta demasiado crunk para quedarte con los dunks

Cuiziner c’est toi que je veux voir
Que je veux voir ce soir
Te faire ridiculiser par une fille qui rappe mieux que toi
J’ai pas assez de mes 10 doigts pour les compter dans la salle
Toutes ces filles coiffees comme moi qui savent ce que tu vaux a poil

Cuiziner eres tu al que quiero ver

Que quiero ver esta noche

Hacerte pasar un ridicula por una chica que rapea mejor que tu

No tengo suficientes dedos para contarlas en el lugar,

Todas estas chicas peinadas como yo que saben cuanto vales en bolas.

Ojo, la traduccion no es literal porque si fuera asi muchas frases no tendrian un sentido correcto. Más tarde posteare otras traducciones, para aquellos que traigan el ocio antes de la fiesta.

Entrevistei a Yelle!

“Você pode ser um gótico ou um fã de country, eu gosto da diferença.”
Fofa!

Vamos no show amanhã?

Front and center folks. Going to mix it up a little in this post today I’m writing about genres I am not so into. I’m also listing tunes from people I’m not totally familiar with, but it’s always worth a punt in my opinion.

Rather than the usual French-influenced, 80’s-sampled Electro that we all know and love I’m dipping my toes into new waters. Particularly with the bottom recommendation. The simple fact is I’m a hopeless romantic and occasionally I fall madly for a track before I can stand back and slot it into some familiar genre that I find I’m comfortable with.

ALAN MX
Credit where credit is due, (except perhaps for when I don’t credit that is. hmm. I try ‘kay!). Another Brighton blog, called Totally Twitterpated spilled the news to me on this artist and gains the aforementioned credit today. ALAN MX is signed to Smalltown America Records and hails from Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK. The track I list is actually a remix of his ‘Captain America’ tune, done excellently by Brad Walsh. A twisted love song, packed with humour, with a swirling vocal reminiscent of Colin McIntyre (circa Mull Historical Society’s tune, ‘The Final Arrears’) and brilliant lyrics like “I know I’m gay, but I’ll make an exception”. It all makes for a truly fantastic and entertaining song. You will love it. If not, well, I’ve got some earplugs you can wear, like, permanently…

Find him here:  Myspace

Hear him here:  ALAN MX – Captain America (Brad Walsh Remix)

GEORGE LENTON
OK, I’m always getting emailed and posted tracks, like most other blog writers, with artists trying to get the spread on their stuff posted. Most of the time they’re bollocks. Simple. Thankfully my ears have the patience of a crowd of bored saints with lots and lots of spare time. I always, always listen thoroughly to every track I’m mailed and I check through every myspace/last.fm friend request I receive. I’m too kind. This fella however was one of those that paid off. The track is a remix he’s done of the tune, ‘Je Veux te Voir’ by the French band Yelle. Now I’ve a soft spot for Yelle anyways, so perhaps I was always going to like this, but suffice to say it bangs. A slightly different sound to the normal electro often found on here, but it pounds along with plenty of claps and it breaks brilliantly to emphasize the cute French lyrics. I reckon Pelski would like this. I’ll ask him. Midlander George informs me that Huw Stephens and Tepr are all over it. No bad thing. Perhaps we all ought to watch this space.

Find him here:   Myspace

Hear him here:  Yelle – Je Veux Te Voir (George Lenton Remix)

MATHHEAD
If I’m totally honest here, I’m dipping into a genre with this guy that I don’t really fancy all that much. Not to belittle him in any way, but I generally do not go for the whole bass-heavy warped and distorted, pounding sounds that emanate from this area of dance music. I fervently try and stay true to my own tastes in this blog as it must be sincere and from my heart, but there is a scene thats bubbled away over the last couple of years and it’s impossible to keep away from it. I’ve mostly managed to ignore it, but occasionally it throws out something interesting. Really interesting. I’m talking about the whole Trouble & Bass, Herve, Drop The Lime, Curses, Fake Blood group of DJ’s that owe much to the 90’s drum & bass and rave sounds. It is generally darker and packed with chaotic, heavy, wobbling breaks. Mathhead is a highlight. A New Yorker who loves a sample as much as the next DJ, but works a little magic like nobody else I know. If I fall for any other Dj’s in this crew I’ll post about them also, so watch out.

Find him here:   Myspace

Hear him here:  Mathhead – Magnum (Megaforce Edit)

Right I’m off to dip my head into a bucket of Indie music to wash off this blow out of grime-soaked dance music. I’d be really interested to hear your opinions on this lot. Some you will likely know, others may be new to you. Drop me a comment as always.

Mike

The sun has set on M.I.A., no one likes Britney anymore, and Feist sold out to those fucking pigs on Sesame Street. It’s time took look east, to France.

Yes, our posh European allies have come to our rescue once again to revive our hearts and minds with Yelle.

Scheduled to play The Roxy on October 15th, Yelle’s video for “Ce Jeu” (roughly “this game” or “this play”) perfectly exemplifies just how inferior in cute and awesome our American pop icons are.

“Je Veux Te Voir (Club-Club Version)” – Yelle (2008 Caroline World Service Catalog) Je Veux Te Voir

Cette chanteuse me fait tellement marrer avec ses chansons à couvert sarcastique…

I usually don’t listen to french music, but those made me laugh my ass off. Just ask for a translation if you want one. (My favorite is “Ce soir tu vas prendre”). Just in case, these are mostly about sex, hence the irony.

Yelle – Je veux te voir (I wanna see you)

Max Boublil – Ce soir tu vas prendre

Don Choa – Dr Hannibal (this one’s a reference to several horror movies, especially Hannibal Lecter).

It’s been a bummer of a week. I was a pall bearer. I kept getting rained out at work and now I’m stressing rent. My lady friend is out of town. And the Cubs keep doing well. I need happiness. The kind of happiness only French Bubble Pop karaoke can provide…

Oh yeah, that’s what daddy needs. Have a good weekend. I’m going to check in this weekend with more crap.

(Also, if the title above didn’t give it away, my French is TERRIBLE. But did they name check orgasms, Magic Johnson, and key-tairs all in the same song? Man the French are awesome…)

yelle has been stirring so much heat in france im pretty embarrassed that i’m only featuring her now.

‘Je veux te voir‘, the hit single which shot her to fame in 2006 is one hell of a dance track. And i totally get why she and her 80s rewind worth of tracks are as easy on the ears as it is to dance to on a greasy sweaty dirty friday evening.

Shes a huge mainstream hipster in france and with such energy and vibrancy she’s gonna take over the world. Be careful..

A Cause Des Garcons Video

Je Veux Te Voir Video

Perfect for a friday i’m in love spot shes pure dance dance dance till you faint.

Her latest album is called pop up and beg, borrow or steal you have to have a listen.

Grab her hottest track at the moment ‘A cause des garcons‘ which has even kitsune swooning over her.

Watch the 2 videos. now.

mp3|yelle – A cause des garcons / (zshare)

mp3|yelle – Je veux te voir / (zshare)

yelle website

yelle myspace

Yelle, the French singer who rose to fame via MySpace just released a new video of her song Je veux te voir (which was actually written two years ago). Singing and dancing aside, the detailed use of colour should be noted. The wardrobe and the art director were clearly working together. From the walls to the floor to the hat to the shoes, it’s flawless. They colours complement each other and Yelle perfectly. (Hell even the extras look hot with those colours)

Her official web site: http://www.yelle.fr/ (Which, again, the use of colour is PERFECT)

Her MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/iloveyelle