Continuing with this brief survey of contemporary French (pop) music in bullet-point fashion, let’s get to the next generation of singer-songwriters: those born in the 1970s. I must say that this bunch represents an exciting spectrum of graceful, witty, thoughtful pop songs and my entry into this music scene.

Benjamin Biolay: I’ve already mentioned Biolay very briefly, but he certainly deserves much more than a blurb. He’s been rightly dubbed the new Gainsbourg – not so much in terms of similarity of sound or voice, but rather in terms of an acute understanding of fine songwriting craftsmanship. Crucial to this understanding is the fact that Biolay is one of those jacks-of-all-trades. He honed his skills in a conservatory, ending up mastering the piano, guitar, orchestration and everything else before embarking on his musical career.

The first real solid sounds of Biolay’s songwriting ability arrived in the form of Keren Ann’s debut album, La biographie de Luka Philipsen (2000). With the exception of 2 tracks from this 13-track album, Biolay wrote all of the songs and sang with Keren Ann on one of them. It’s a gorgeous album, with songs like “Sur le fil,” “Jardin d’hiver,” and their beautiful duet “Décrocher les étoiles,” and demonstrates the range of Biolay’s pop sensibilities.

In between composing and producing his sister Coralie Clément’s own debut, Salle des pas perdus (2002), Biolay began his own career in 2001 with the concept album Rose Kennedy – the themes of which can be gleaned from the title: America, (loss of) innocence, nostalgia, elegance. It doesn’t disappoint: according to the themes, it’s a quiet, but solid artist both in sound and voice; it’s like one long, cozy night by the fireside, but with its own string of worries and anxieties alongside dreams and desires.

I could now go through each of his subsequent albums – he’s released 6 albums, including a superb original soundtrack (Clara et moi) and a folksy, lovely collaboration with then-wife Chiara Mastroianni titled Home, which incidentally are both from 2004 – but that would take up all of this posting. Let me just say that he’s Biolay is supremely prolific and his songs never fail to impress me in their innovative structure, their intelligent lyrics, and their neverending variety. His second album, Négatif, for one thing, was a double album and is an opus that should be listened to in widescreen – if that makes any sense. It doesn’t reach the intimacy of Rose Kennedy – in fact, none of his subsequent albums to date have done so since – but such is the mark of a musical artist always growing and reaching out beyond glass ceilings, right? I can’t wait to hear his newest record, La superbe, released this year.

Discography: Rose Kennedy (2001), Négatif (2003), Home (2004, with Chiara Mastroianni), À l’origine (2005), Trash yéyé (2007), La superbe (2009)

Keren Ann: I’ve mentioned her already, in relation to Biolay. For her first 3 albums, she collaborated heavily with Biolay, and perhaps her own songwriting ability has been overshadowed by this point. I wouldn’t look at her early work in this light. Personally, I find La biographie de Luka Philipsen to be one magnificent accomplishment and collaboration – plus, to be fair, Keren Ann co-wrote some tracks with Biolay for his first 2 records.

She has since released 2 more solo albums, and in between her collaborations with Biolay, she’s released 2 albums for her other musical project, Lady & Bird, with Icelandic jack-of-all-trade  Barði Jóhannson – the more recent being this year’s La ballade of Lady & Bird. I haven’t heard anything from Lady & Bird, so commentary will have to wait.

With each new album, Keren Ann has shifted from strictly French-language songs to a mix between French- and English-language compositions. Some people can be purists when it comes to linguistic things like this one, but I dare say with each new album, Keren Ann’s songwriting voice has only gotten stronger. And her voice has grown on me as well. Comparisons with Carla Bruni’s voice have been batted around, which I can see, but the sensibilities between these 2 women are quite different. The touch of melancholy in Keren Ann’s songs is perhaps a lot more immediate.

Discography: La biographie de Luka Philipsen (2000), La disparition (2002), Not going anywhere (2003), Nolita (2004), Keren Ann (2007); Lady & Bird (2003), La ballade of Lady & Bird (2009)

Alex Beaupain: Beaupain is the one in this bunch about whom I know the least. But what I do know is that he’s a wicked singer-songwriter. The majority of his work thus far consists of music written for films, like 17 fois Cécile Cassard (2002), Un an and Dans Paris from 2006, and Les chansons d’amour (2007). He’s released 2 solo albums, Garçon d’honneur (2005) and 33 tours (2008).

I’ve only listened to his first album so far, but talk about seducing your ears. Based on this album alone, I find him ranking up there with Biolay in terms of songwriting and execution. Based on one track alone, I would recommend to anyone Beaupain’s music. The track I speak of is the last one of Garçon d’honneur, “Brooklyn Bridge.” It’s utterly exquisite, perhaps because it has a similar feel of wistfulness, harmony and richness that Biolay’s entire Rose Kennedy album possesses. At the very least, “Brooklyn Bridge” equals any of Biolay’s piano-driven ballads across his numerous albums.

Discography: Garçon d’honneur (2005), 33 tours (2008)

Other notable artists of this generation to look out for: Camille (Dalmais), Vanessa Paradis, Jeanne Cherhal, Albin de la Simone, Pauline Croze, Sébastien Tellier, Ridan

Coralie Clément: Clément, as I’ve mentioned, is Biolay’s (younger) sister. As such, she represents yet another generation, those born in the 1980s. Thanks mainly to Biolay, Clément hit the ground running with Salle des pas perdus. This album is nearly perfect in its jazz-pop hushed tones, led by Clément’s equally hushed manner of singing. Thus far she has released 2 albums subsequently, none of which have come to equal the charm and dreaminess of Salle des pas perdus.

Bye Bye Beauté, though helmed mainly by Biolay with most of the songs composed by him, includes collaborations with new names (Clément herself has a hand in a couple of the compositions) that have a rougher, bubble-gum pop sound that left some initial fans disappointed. The album does have its gems, like “Un beau jour pour mourir,” but the jazz-pop sound that made such a great impression on me is more or less muffled or taken out. I haven’t had the chance to check out her latest album, Toystore, but I read somewhere that it “returns” to the Salle des pas perdus glory.

Discography: Salle des pas perdus (2002), Bye Bye Beauté (2005), Toystore (2008)

Other notable artists of this generation to look out for: Emilie Simon

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I only joined twitter a few weeks ago.  I’ve known what it was for some time but decided to keep my distance.  Announcing your status, interests, favorite everythings minute by minute just seemed silly.  Facebook was addicting enough for me at its peak last year.

But now, I don’t know.  I guess I was lonely.  Or depressed.  Or lost.  Or all of these things in varying degrees.  And I needed something fun to keep me glued to the computer so I could get work done.

Seen this video?

So, I got active.  Very active.  From less than 10 tweets ever, I’ve tweeted 61 times in three days.  Or is twittered?  Twooted?  Who cares. For the sake of doing it, I learned how to send a tweet from my cell phone.  How’s that for modern?  Ee gad.  I still don’t know how to “work it” on twitter.  Don’t know how I’m supposed to get people to follow me, or if I should aim to follow more people than follow me, or vice versa.  Or if it’s a healthy thing to follow celebrities, or if it’s just a waste of time.  Or if you can interact with the people you follow but who don’t know who you are.  I’m going to drop it.  I’ll figure it out, I guess.

I’ve also discovered an online radio social network which allows you to be your own DJ, add infinite songs to your playlist, tweet, gain followers, and give “props” to other DJ’s.  There’s probably other applications like it, but the one I’ve found, really like, and have been using is called Blip.fm.  Check it out. I’m listening to a duet now by Kylie Minogue and Kermit the Frog.

The music, the updates, it’s made life a little more interesting. At least for the last couple days.  My life tends to change so drastically week by week these few months.  I had a wine class twice per week, very time consuming, for just under two months.  Then it stopped leaving a huge gap.  Then Thanksgiving came, which took a couple weeks of planning and an intense three days of cooking.  Then nothing.  On the work front, one of my clients had a ton and a half of work for me for two events that took place a week apart.  And now nothing form her.  And now I’ve got a new client and some more, very different, work to do.  I feel very anchorless. And very alone.

When do I get to do what I want to do?  Well, almost anytime, if I made it priority.   It’s hard.  It’s really hard.  That’s why I’m trying to create a a daily and hourly schedule.  School, university, intense desk jobs, theatre directing work, are all incredibly structured, and at those I was very successful.  No kidding.  At adult life, I’m not. Not at all.

So, if twitter and blip.fm and probably dozens more applications I’ll discover this week make life more lively while I try to pick myself up yet again, yet again, why the hell not.  Why the hell now.  Having the music is energizing, if anything.  I forgot how much I love music.  And how little I listen to it these days.  Perhaps a live jazz outing once a week should get penciled into the schedule?  Perhaps, perhaps…

Enjoy this gorgeousness:

Cool Stuff to Complement Your Yoga… ON and OFF the Mat.

READING…

THE WEEK MAGAZINE

This is consistently my favorite magazine. The Week takes the news and articles from all over the world and condenses it into one magical magazine. Art, Music, News, Food and Wacky Info all at your finger tips. Perfect.

AUDIO…

Your Spanish Scarf …. Dan Blakeslee

Dan Blakeslee is a tremendous artist, a wonderful musician and darn it… just a really nice guy, who I came across while living in Portsmouth, NH. He is a fixture around the Seacoast of New Hampshire and Massachusetts. In fact, his concert posters are so coveted that as soon as he’s posted them, fans have snatched them up from telephone poles and framed them to put on their walls.

Art by Dan Blakeslee

You can listen to a sample of his song Your Spanish Scarf  by clicking HERE. It’s a soft, warm song about traveling for a long time and all he wants to do is wake up in the arms of his wife. How dreamy. You can buy his art and his music on his website danblakeslee.com.  I think we should convince him to come down to Savannah and play here! 

Keren Ann

Keren Ann is Israeli, Dutch and Javanese. She’s lived in France, NYC, the Netherlands, Israel and speaks fluently in all those languages. She’s got a uber cool vibe that is also laid back and unpretentious. Her albums are multi-lingual and can make you feel like you have your very own dreamy, slightly nostalgic, Euro-Movie soundtrack playing. You know… with subtitles,  perfectly positioned angst juxtaposed with hope and everything! 

Keren Ann

Granted,  if you are in the mood to rock it out Iron Maiden style, Keren Ann wouldn’t fit the bill, but on those chilly rainy days when you want to cozy up and stare at the raindrops slipping down the window panes, a Keren Ann album is just the thing. … Lay Your Head Down, Ailleurs and Greatest You Can Find are a couple of my favorites of hers. Click on the song titles to listen/watch. And click HERE to listen to Keren Ann on NPR’s World Cafe. 

LifeForce Yoga Nidra… Amy Weintraub

Yoga nidra is the practice of moving into a deep, deep, conscious sleep. It is beyond the usual awakened state, beyond dreaming, beyond guided imagery/meditation or relaxation. Those states of being are much-needed and should be practiced frequently. Yoga nidra however, is the state of being conscious while in what the body and brain would be monitored as deep sleep. Brain waves in deep sleep are Delta Brain waves and yogis in the state of yoga nidra who have been studied and monitored have been found to be fully conscious while in the delta wave zone. 

Ok, so what does all this mean? It means connecting with the essence of who we are through this practice. The deeper essence that remains connected to the source of all things. The essence that remains pure- beyond changing moods, thoughts or actions.

NO! They didn't drink the Kool-Aid! It's a Yoga Nidra practice. Kind of like nap time in pre-school... with deep yogic consciousness added!

So, if that interests you, Amy Weintraub’s CD is a really nice practice to start with. The CD, LifeForce Yoga Nidra, has 3 tracks:  a 41 minute practice, a 21 minute practice and an 8 minute (regular) sleep guide. I don’t usually use the 8 min. sleep guide, personally, but you may like it. Both the 41 min practice and the 21 min. practice are really wonderful. You do them separately. I do an asana (physical) yoga practice daily and a yoga nidra practice daily and just as my physical practice changes from day-to-day, my yoga nidra practice unfolds uniquely each day as well.

Know that yoga nidra isn’t like buying a ticket to a destination. So if you are expecting to pop in the CD and take a magic carpet ride, you’ll be disappointed. Yes, it may be pretty amazing and astounding at times, but remember it is a practice that is part of your journey to knowing yourself, to feeling connected again, and to deeper states of consciousness. Your experience will unfold for you as you are ready and as your expectations fall by the wayside. That being said, the first 20 times you might just end up falling asleep! hahaha. Don’t worry. If you do, it must mean you really needed it. Keep at your yoga nidra practice. You’ll find that each time you’ll be able to delve deeper inside while still remaining conscious.

You can listen to samples of LifeForce Yoga Nidra on CD Baby or Itunes.   Click on highlighted links above for more info.

Voici les chouchous de novembre. C’est une manne assez jumpy dans l’ensemble, mais j’y ai mis aussi un bon disque langoureux.

Compilation “Girl Powder”
Réunion de groupes féminins de tous horizons et toutes origines. Culture electro pop et hip hop mélangées. Ces groupes de filles sont américains, japonais, australien, français….. Si vous aimez danser, si vous aimez Santogold ou Kap Bambino, si vous aimez l’electroclash aussi….laissez vous tenter.

Howie B Vs Casino Royale “Not in The Face Real Dub Version”
On va commencer par une présentation succincte de notre ami Howie B. Il est écossais,  musicien, producteur et remixeur. Sa carrière a démarré dans les 90’s, il a travaillé avec pas mal d’artistes tels Bjork, U2 ou Tricky. En 1996, il a sorti un très bel album ambient “Music for Babies” à l’occasion de la naissance de son propre bébé, disque dans lequel il utilise des sons entendus in utero. Il a également fait partie du collectif Skylab.
Lors d’une récente tournée, il a rencontré les italiens de Casino Royale et, ensemble ils ont décidé de faire un disque d’électro dub. Qui pour moi est assez bien réussi.

Baddies “Do the Job”
Des british qui font de l’indie rock croisé punk rock. C’est super efficace et  ça réveille, en effet comment rester de marbre à l’écoute de ”Open one Eye”  ? Il faut avouer que dans le genre les anglais restent imbattables. Je n’en dis pas plus. Il  ne sera malheureusement pas disponible avant le 25 novembre, alors voici le single en images pour patienter :

Fagget Fairys “Feed the Horse”
J’ai découvert ce groupe  en écoutant Bang Bang, la meilleure émission sur Pure FM à mon avis.  Je fais une petite parenthèse pour signaler que cette émission transgenres est surtout transculturelle, c’est une des dernières émissions sur la bande hertzienne nationale où l’on prend le temps de parler de bouquins et bd’s, de politique, de musique, de mode, de ciné  et de sexe,  le tout présenté avec beaucoup d’humour.  Je suis franchement  fan.
Bref, revenons à nos brebis. Fagget Fairys est donc un duo féminin suédois  formé de Dj Sensimilla et Mc Ena , elles font de l’electro rap assez dancefloor. Mais elles n’ont pas peur des mélanges, puisqu’on y retrouve des éléments dubstep, avec le fameux gros coup de basse ( j’aime bien ) mais aussi des influences balkaniques  (que j’aime beaucoup moins) . Elles sont lesbiennes, le crient bien fort, et  ont des paroles explicites (Feed the Horse). Un disque qui ne se prend pas la tête, dans lequel il y a quand même quelques fameux bons titres.

Fuck Buttons “Tarot Sport”
Le duo de Bristol revient avec un deuxième album qui est assez semblable au premier en fait. C’est de la techno évolutive et tripante  avec des déviations vers l’électro noise . Cet album-ci est peut-être plus dancefloor que le premier. Ils sont toujours sur le label ATP du nom du festival anglais qui les a découverts.  Je les ai vus en concert pour la quatrième fois au Bota le mois passé, et  comme à chaque fois, ce fut vraiment bien. Face à face de part et d’autre d’une table sur laquelle sont posées leurs valises de fabricants de sons. Ils se balancent d’avant en arrière comme des métronomes tout en criant dans un micro déformant, et triturant les boutons de leurs samplers et claviers divers.
Le cd ne sera malheureusement disponible que le 1er décembre.

Lady & Bird “La ballade of Lady & Bird”
Un disque très classieux à écouter de préférence allongé sur une peau de mouton au coin du feu alors qu’il neige dehors, et si on est en bonne compagnie c’est encore mieux.  Lady & Bird c’est le duo islando-français formé par Keren Ann et Bardi Johannsson. Comme pour leur premier projet, ils sont doués pour les ambiances feutrées, les belles mélodies sentimentales, et en plus ils ont eu le chic de se faire accompagner par l’Island Symphony Orchestra. Donc, pas de sampling ou du riquiqui dans les effets de cordes, ici c’est du vrai !

Pour terminer : je vous donne rendez-vous au Bota pour les concerts de Akron/Family, The Field et à l’AB pour pleurer au concert de Notwist tellement ça sera bien.
http://www.abconcerts.be/fr/concerts/p/detail/the-notwist-andromeda-mega-express-orchestra-11-12-2009
http://botanique.be/cgi?usr=a6fmqs2tb4&lg=fr&pag=869&rec=0&frm=0&par=aybabtu&id=4402&flux=30190486

]]> http://mamusique.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/89/ Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:20:31 +0000 alanarvor http://mamusique.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/89/

J’ai décidé de vous parler de Keren Ann. Son dernier album m’a beaucoup touché. Sorti en 2007 (déjà !!!! je vieilli) c’est un album que j’écoute toujours avec autant d’admiration que la première fois.

Sobrement intitulé Keren Ann, c’est entièrement en anglais qu’elle a choisit de se présenter. La pochette m’avait déjà fait craqué lorsque que je l’ai vu dans les rayons chez mon disquaire préféré. Il est simple et sa sobre et ça fait beaucoup de bien. Quand on ouvre le booklet on trouve les lyrics imprimés en noir et blanc. Comme c’est beau la simplicité. Etrangement ça a énormément de charme surtout quand ça colle à merveille avec l’album.
Cet album sonne plus rock que les précédents. Il y a seulement neuf pistes et croyez moi on en voudrait plus. Heureusement chaque piste fait en moyenne cinq minutes. Le piano et la guitare dominent sur quasiment tous les titres. Cela nous renvoie une fois de plus à de la simplicité. Ca n’est pas le classique de la ballade piano guitare dont tout le monde s’en fout. Selon moi c’est un album résolument moderne aux ambiances pop, électro et rock. Une véritable bouffée de fraîcheur qui vous emporte et les neufs titres passent très vite. Ce n’est pas un album qui se différencie par son originalité mais par sa simplicité et sa cohérence. C’est avec sa petite voix que la franco-néerlandaise a choisi de se présenter. Une fois de plus on relève une cohérence entre la voix et l’instrumentation. Certaines pistes se démarquent tout de même de l’album et je pense, par exemple, que chacun devrait avoir le droit au moins une fois dans sa vie d’écouter Lay your head down. Cet album est en grande partie composé de ballades très émouvantes à ne jamais écouter un soir de rupture dans le noir avec une corde. Il y a une puissance qui émane de cet album. Je trouve qu’il a une âme. Ce qui est formifable c’est que toute cette force ne contraste pas le moins du monde avec la douceur des ballades, au contraire elle l’accentue. It ain’t no crime, l’une des rares pistes plus rythmées de l’album, illustre bien la puissance de l’album je trouve avec ses guitares électriques et ses percussions très précises donnent du corps à la chanson et puissance digne d’une marche militaire. Sur Where no endings end j’ai beaucoup aimé les arrangements flute de Magic Malik qui fait ressortir tous le reste de l’instrumentation. Les arrangements piano quant à eux trouvent une inspiration Yann Tiersen, réputé lui aussi pour la simplicité de ses mélodies. Certaines pistes comme Liberty sont soupoudrées d’électro. Cet album résonne comme un murmure chuchoté au creu de mon oreille lors d’un réveil de grasse matinée.
Cet album m’a particulièrement ému. Je crois que c’est l’un de mes préférés. Voilà déjà deux ans qu’il est sorti et j’attends le prochain avec beaucoup d’impatience. Pour résumer Keren Ann, je n’aurais qu’un mot : sobriété. Oui c’est le mot qui résume au mieux c’est album. La sobriété c’est tellement beau…certains devraient en prendre de la graine.

la fille de poche ama le serie. le ama da sempre e fin qui non ci piove. se ne vede 50, quelle che però ama sono 5 o 6. fra queste sei campeggia quella ambientata nell’ospedale universitario di seattle, la cui pioggia è uno dei protagonisti principali della serie, come quella “city” di sex and the city. parlo di grey’s anatomy, che come l’anatomia umana studia la struttura e la forma del corpo umano, questa anatomia disseziona i sentimenti, come i bisturi di questi aspiranti chirurghi. all’inizio odiavo meredith, pensavo fosse una baldracca qualsiasi: la guardi e fai, ma è solo una 38ennechefalapartedella20enne, e poi la riguardi e dici, il chirurgo plastico c’è andato giù duro. ma poi l’incontro con una rossa di deneuviana memoria l’ha allontanata dal suo dottor stranamore trasformandola in una persona qualsiasi, diventa la seconda scelta, come quelle sottomarche al supermercato, quelle carte igieniche con effetto cartavetrata o i fazzoletti diciamo senza effetto peeling. e a tratti nella parte finale della serie quasi si campeggia per la rossa algida perché passa dalla parte degli “umiliati e offesi”. a poco a poco, la serie ti entra dentro…con tutti i suoi personaggi, izzie stephens, l’istintiva tenerona – un po’ io -che rischia tutto per amore di un cardiopatico di javier bardemiana memoria, ma che è l’unica ad aver scoperto il buono che c’è dietro l’odioso stronzo alex karev, modello di ckalviniana memoria poi c’è cristina yang, che ricorda un quadro di picasso, tanto immersa nel lavoro quanto negli occhi di burke, georgino o’malley il coinquilino che tutte sognano di avere. il medico color cioccolato fondente al 65% che sotto la patina di infame nasconde quella di un grissino. per non parlare della nazi, la bailey, adorabile bastarda di quelle che fanno paura, ma sanno anche sorridere. all’appello manca solo webber, il primario che tutti temono, ma tutti adorano. da quasi un anno vedo la serie e devo dire che è andata crescendo diventanto un prodotto fantastico. premiato dalla critica e dal pubblico…e dalle mie lacrime, la fille de poche ha il pianto facile e ha pianto quasi sempre. ha pianto quando al seattle grace è arrivata l’apocalisse, ha pianto quando meredith è stata docciata da cristina e izzie in seguito alla fine del mondo, ha pianto quando cristina ha perso il bambino e burke ha scoperto tutto solo guardando il tabellone, quando la bimba – bimbo ha scelto il suo sesso, quando meredith è stata mollata dal dottor stranamore e quando piangeva mentre stava a letto con george, ho pianto quando il recupero della loro amicizia sembrava compromesso, ho pianto quando rosanna arquette muore, ho pianto col bimbo specialista in spelling, ho pianto quando la madre affetta da cancro lasciava un testamento alla figlia 16enne, ho pianto quando le cinque gemelline non ce l’hanno fatta – solo una se né è salvata -, ho pianto quando meredith viene lavata da izzie e cristina in seguito alla bomba, ho pianto quando due perfetti sconosciuti erano attraversati da un treno o quando mentre la nazi partoriva il marito moriva.ma ho anche riso, con la bailey in primis. ho pianto talmente tanto che le mie ghiandole lacrimali in pieno sciopero non hanno retto e mi hanno lasciata solo con l’amaro in bocca quando il cane di meredith è stato soppresso, quando burke rischiava di morire, o izzie aveva esagerato, ho quasi pianto per la nipote di wallace, o quasi pianto quando addison ha capito e ancora quando alex consola la sua izzie dopo la morte di danny. queste e ancora le lacrime che verranno per tutti noi grey’s addicted…..seriously. vi lascio alla colonna sonora splendida degli ultimi momenti della seconda stagione con i cari snow patrol e la loro chasing cars, pazienza se c’è già in bellainrosa, come simbolo di quelle canzoni che ho amato grazie a questa serie (in testa “fools in love“, “not going anywhere” e “song beneath the song“)…bene è tutto…vi lascio agli snow e a grey’s….

e un doveroso aggiornamento

bisoux,

la fille de poche

(originally posted on: 12/05/07 – modified on: 24/10/09)

eldrsaleabailar: discos olvidados injustamente

¿Quién supo de su existencia en su día?, nadie, cuatro iluminados por una reseña en el RDL de entonces que no teníamos suficiente con seguir al pie del postpunk con el que nos inundaban y todavía teníamos ganas de descubrir alguna cosa nueva fuera de cualquier etiqueta “post-loquesea“ de las que empezábamos a aburrirnos. Así llegué a este disco, que además estaba apadrinado de alguna manera por Benjamín Biolay, que por entonces era un must de mi discoteca.
Desde la primera escucha caí rendido a los pies de esta susurradora encantadora, porque no canta, “simplemente” se dedica a susurrarte en el oído, a veces de manera casi imperceptible las once canciones que forman el tercer trabajo de la israelí-holandesa-francesa Karen Ann.

Estamos ante su tercer disco, primero cantado en inglés en el cual recuperaba alguna canción que ya había entrado en sus dos discos anteriores en francés, por ejemplo la deliciosa Surannée”, que se transforma por arte de bendita magia en “Seventeen”, (por cierto esta pieza la cantan a duo ¡Jane Birkin y Francoise Hardy! en el disco “Rendez Vous” de la Hardy.)

El disco se abre con la homónima “not going anywhere” , ejemplo de lo que se nos viene encima, sencillo en apariencia, “no es más que” pop en mayúsculas heredero de la mejor chanson francesa pero con toques de jazz ligero y sobretodo unos arreglos preciosos que son perfectos para evocar los más bonitos recuerdos mientras nos mecemos en las manos de esta joven (¡tiene mis mismos años!) cantante.

Sigue con “Polly”, una nana preciosista que parece sacada de una caja de música de esas de cuento de hadas que finaliza con el toque épico que dan los trombones y la percusión tremendista. Que continua con “ Road Bin “ primer acercamiento de la chanson al blues y “End of May “ con un aire más oscuro que sonaría como unos Portishead sin electrónica a los que acompañasen un coro de sirenas.

Y tras “Sailor & Widow “ que suena más fuerte que cualquier otra pieza del disco con “Sit in the Sun “ vuelve al intimismo de una playa a primera hora de la mañana o a última de la tarde cuando no queda apenas nadie y se puede disfrutar de verdad del mar, de la brisa y de la decadencia de la salitre.

“Right Now & Right Here “ podría haber estado perfectamente en la banda sonora de Sonrisas y Lágrimas, incluso con niños adorables a los coros, preludio perfecto de “Seventeen” que continuando con el tono del musical nos presenta a Keren como una nueva joven institutriz en medio de montañas doradas por el sol del otoño.

En la recta final “Spanish Song Bird “ toca más de cerca el jazz casi de Orleans, “By the Cathedral “  se mece en una trompeta cercana a Chet Baker y “Ending Song”  dobla las voces para lograr una despedida celestial a este disco que me parece que se ha notado un poco, me encanta.

Salut!  I have put together two of my favourite things:  melancholy + French music.  They just go very well together.

Benjamin Biolay is my top male singer in any language.  He just happens to sing (mainly) in French, and that makes it all the better.  And sexier, if you ask me.  He has a new album coming out in October, titled ‘La Superbe’.  Keren Ann and Monsieur Biolay have collaborated together musically, which is how I discovered Keren Ann.  I first heard ‘Au Coin du Monde’ while watching the movie ‘Comme t’y es belle!’, and I liked it right away.  Élodie Frégé was the winner of the third season of Star Academy, France’s version of American Idol.  She is an amazing vocal performer in her own right, and hey, guess who has collaborated with her….yep, B. Biolay.  Calogero Maurici is another favourite of mine, a talented performer and composer.  You can find out more about him on his official website.

I hope you enjoy this selection.  Either way, I welcome your feedback, comments or questions.

1.  Keren Ann: Au Coin du Monde (Streets Go Down)

2. Benjamin Biolay: Les Séparés

3. Élodie Frégé: La Ceinture

4. Calogero: Fais Comme Tu Veux

5. Keren Ann: Lay Your Head Down

- do you guess what i’m thinking of just this time. just this time.

Begin jaren tachtig liep in stage bij een architektenbureau. Ik was er veel alleen en de radio was dan mijn enige gezelschap. Jammer genoeg stelde de uitzendingen van de goede oude BRT toen niet veel voor. Radio 1 was enkel in AM te beluisteren met heel veel geruis en Radio 2 was toen ook al gericht op huisvrouwen: veel kooktips en tuinpraatjes. Geeuw! Rudi’s Club op woensdagsnamiddags was zowat het enige muziekprogramma.

Studio Brussel of Radio Donna  waren nog niet uitgevonden. Dus was de enige optie uitwijken. Er werd dan ook veel naar het Nederlandse Radio 3 geluisterd. Of naar de uitzendingen van de Franstalige omroep Radio 21. Daar zorgden mensen als Marc Moulin en Gilles Verlant voor een frisse wind. Ook op TV trouwens was er veel meer aandacht voor rock en pop bij onze zuiderburen dan bij ons: Génération ’80 en Lunettes noires pour des nuits blanches waren stukken avontuurlijker dan Avro’s TopPop of Veronica’s Countdown.

Natuurlijk hadden die mensen niet alleen aandacht voor Britse en Amerikaanse artiesten, zodat “het chanson” toen ook in Vlaanderen op flink wat belangstelling mocht rekenen.

Door de komst van de eigen, Vlaamse muziekzenders hebben wij het contact met de Franstalige muziek voor een groot stuk verloren. Nochtans wordt er nog steeds mooie muziek gemaakt.

En nu met de vakantie in aantocht lijkt het mij een geschikt moment om u wat  recente voorbeelden van zuchtmeisjes en hun mannelijke collega’s aan te bieden.  

Benjamin Biolay – Mon amour m’a baissé  
Een man met een uitstekende smaak: muzikaal de erfgenaam van Gainsbourg en wat les filles betreft: getrouwd (geweest) met Chiara Mastroianni (dochter van Catherine Deneuve en Marcello Mastroianni).

Coralie Clement – Indécise
Je merkt het niet aan de familienaam, maar het is de zus van Biolay. Het talent isblijkbaar aangeboren.  

Keren Ann – Au coin du monde
Geboren in Israël, opgegroeid in Nederland en Frankrijk en woont nu in New York. Ze heeft samengewerkt met Biolay en probeert nu in het Engels carrière te maken. Iemand om in het oog te houden!

Camille – Ta douleur
Camille Dalmais ken je misschien van Nouvelle Vague, of van de soundtrack van Ratatouille. Maar haar cd’s Le sac des filles en vooral Le fil zijn zeer eigenzinnig en zeer de moeite waard.

 
Raphael – Caravanne
Ook al het resultaat van verschillende culturen: een Joods Russische-Marokaanse vader en een Argentijnse moeder. De cd Caravnne betekende zijn doorbraak in 2005.

Sandrine Kiberlain – Y’a du monde        
In Frankrijk zingt zowat elke actrice. En sommigen kunnen het ook echt.

Emily Loizeau – Je suis jalouse
Haar vorige cd, L’autre bout du monde was heel goed en volgens het muziektijdschrift Heaven is de nieuwe, Pays Sauvage, nog beter.  

Francoiz Breut – Ma colère
Striptekenares Françoise Breut ken je misschien van haar bijdragen aan Calexico.

Amélie-Les-Crayons – Les jours de neige en ville
Met een naam als Amélie Pham-Van-Cang kun je beter op zoek naar een pseudoniem.  

Emilie Simon - Fleurs de saison
Simon doet het synthesizers en plantjes. En tourde met Placebo.

• .270 followers now.the average number of dæs in that nasty selfish practice of pregnancy.imagine what a .270 winchester would do to a baby.9:01 PM Jun 27th from Ping.fm

• “And come June, baby, it is the lick of my spoon.”7:14 PM Jun 27th from Ping.fm

• “Ralph Waldo Emerson was Jackson’s favorite.” http://bit.ly/tX0ce4:16 PM Jun 27th from Ping.fm

• @TranquilMammoth .i saw your flaggish sheep and your sheepish flag.that flag belongs on www.myspace.com/barredforlife .as does mine.3:47 PM Jun 27th from mobile web

• .oh @umbrellatoday you lied to me! .when ever i finally arrive home i intend to impale my self on my parasol blaming you in my suicide note!3:39 PM Jun 27th from mobile web

• .standing neath a rather obese tree and the sky has EXPLODED over my head showering down wet stuff.may be urine but it smells like urethra.3:37 PM Jun 27th from Ping.fm

• .home…are we ever?2:24 PM Jun 27th from Ping.fm

• “I am living this 27th of June, 1840, a dull, cloudy day and no sun shining.”8:49 AM Jun 27th from Ping.fm

• “He gave me a timid smile. “The trouble is,” he said, “that nobody paints our times. Nobody paints the age we live in.”7:05 PM Jun 26th from Ping.fm

• @nilsnilsnils .alas you must find a new title for your memoirs. http://bit.ly/Mh4FR7:48 AM Jun 26th from mobile web

• .for this #followfriday do f the following five: @heather_gabel @HR_Studios @danielandriano @william_control @dgrantdotcom7:06 AM Jun 26th from mobile web

• “I remember the buzz of curiosity which his advent excited within the college precincts on the night of the twenty-fifth of June.”7:10 PM Jun 25th from mobile web

• .if you have never seen the film living with michael jackson you should turn off the tv and do just that: http://is.gd/1dCxL5:48 PM Jun 25th from mobile web

• “Neverland Ranch Investigators Discover Corpse Of Real #MichaelJackson” http://is.gd/1dyyk4:17 PM Jun 25th from mobile web

• #michaeljackson is at the hospital.not the god damned gates of heaven.3:48 PM Jun 25th from mobile web

• .a tale of two cities by the light divided.featuring @billy corgan and @petshopboys and @dubfire_scitec: www.vjesci.net12:22 PM Jun 25th from mobile web

• .pickmans model is the lovecraft story i read this morning.read along: http://www.dagonbytes.com/t…12:08 PM Jun 25th from Ping.fm

• @roundmyskull .sidney sime belongs on ajrms! http://bit.ly/1a0v9311:41 AM Jun 25th from mobile web

• “and she would continue to pretend that her life counted for something, that she was part of the stream or evolution of the human race”9:58 AM Jun 25th from Ping.fm

• .your skin is a swim suit waiting to be made and that gigantic cock you were sucking over by the diving board would make a nifty snorkel.12:35 AM Jun 25th from mobile web

• .260+ followers now.if i bled you all would there be enough blood to fill the pool i wonder.perhaps i should just fill a few kiddie pools.11:47 PM Jun 24th from mobile web

• .wrote a new chapter.have an urge to fill a pool with blood and swim in it.insomnia has again clutched my skull.sleep when the sun comes.11:23 PM Jun 24th from Ping.fm

• “She’s like a ballad sung in tune And deep in love to be Her face is like the rose in June And her love is all to me”10:46 PM Jun 24th from Ping.fm

• @TranquilMammoth .you can start the revolution by voting @brokencyde off @warped09: http://www.petitiononline.c…7:34 PM Jun 24th from mobile web

• .finally saw trans on @IFCdotcom and am betting if you fell for gummo you will like trans as well. http://www.ifc.com/movies/1…4:58 PM Jun 24th from mobile web

• “lay flat under the lime light and feed off of the fiction cold callus and boiled between the bleak deep of your dirty hands”3:49 PM Jun 24th from Ping.fm

• .you ought see l’année dernière à marienbad if you never have.especially the new @CRITERION edition: http://www.criterion.com/fi…1:53 PM Jun 24th from mobile web

• .my erection penetrates heaven said the architect.1:44 PM Jun 24th from Ping.fm

• .the h.p. lovecraft story i am reading this morning is the outsider: http://www.fantasylibrary.c…8:04 AM Jun 24th from Ping.fm

• “…He felt the wood secrecy, he knew the June softness The warmth surrounding him crackled Held in by the mansard roof mansion”7:55 AM Jun 24th from Ping.fm

• @Scroobiuspipyo .thou shalt not hallow ween.11:53 PM Jun 23rd from mobile web

• @Vegimentary “Celery, raw, Develops the jaw, But celery, stewed, Is more quietly chewed.” — www.ogdennash.org9:45 PM Jun 23rd from mobile web

• “They did not remember the summer blue Or the orange of June. They did not think at all Of the great red and bursting ball”6:40 PM Jun 23rd from Ping.fm

• .of faith power and glory by www.vnvnation.com arrived this morning.five stars are in order.as usual.i hope you hear it.i hope you listen.5:40 PM Jun 23rd from Ping.fm

• .i never forget a façade.3:16 PM Jun 23rd from Ping.fm

• .reading an h.p. lovecraft story every morning.this morning the story is the picture in the house: http://www.classicreader.co…7:16 AM Jun 23rd from Ping.fm

• “Sweet you are Vjesci weird name but cute and short ! So are you in the mood for some love ?”6:37 AM Jun 23rd from mobile web

• .isabella rossellini and kyle maclachlan in a deleted scene from blue velvet at www.lipstickonthelookinggla… .look down.9:48 PM Jun 22nd from Ping.fm

• listening to “Brand-New-Life – Young Marble Giants” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~8pth18:48 PM Jun 22nd from Ping.fm

• listening to “Arma goddamn motherfuckin geddon (Teddybears Remix) – Marilyn Manson” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~8opx111:32 AM Jun 22nd from Ping.fm

• “when a woman smiles, then her dress should smile too”9:38 AM Jun 22nd from Ping.fm

• .will be reading an h.p. lovecraft story every morning for more than two weeks.read with me.the rats in the walls: http://is.gd/19kBE8:58 AM Jun 22nd from Ping.fm

• .kleenex should come free with k-y.10:23 PM Jun 21st from Ping.fm

• “And everything that baby says My daddy’s sure to tell. You must have read my daddy’s verse. I hope he fries in hell.”9:19 PM Jun 21st from Ping.fm

• @DitaVonTeese “Hell’s flame burns unquenched ‘neath how many a stocking On account of to scratch in a salon is shocking!”9:07 PM Jun 21st from mobile web

• .for ever blowing beelzebubbles in the face of g-d.8:57 PM Jun 21st from Ping.fm

• listening to “Ending Song – Keren Ann” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~8nmvp8:51 PM Jun 21st from Ping.fm

• “Doesn’t dove rhyme with love While the moon shines above? Isn’t May for the wooer And June for l’amour?”5:08 PM Jun 21st from Ping.fm

• “But turn her the other way And every day’s Father’s day” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~8mqg011:26 AM Jun 21st from Ping.fm

• .any fool who googles knows this but i say again.i coined LABYRINTHESIA and www.myspace.com/jackdaniels… is NOT labyrinthesia.11:01 AM Jun 21st from web

• “It’s Father’s Day and everybody’s wounded” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~8mkz59:49 AM Jun 21st from Ping.fm

• “So it would certainly be a fair question, on this Father’s day to ask what do you know about a good father.” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~8mhni8:47 AM Jun 21st from Ping.fm
• listening to “Kill The Father – Kristeen Young” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~8m2fe12:59 AM Jun 21st from Ping.fm

• .phonics are your friend.12:31 AM Jun 21st from web

Every day, something reminds me of Tiffani.  Things she liked, things we did together, things she copied from me.  Here’s a short list of things Tiffani ruined for me:

• My swimming pool
• Sunday night dinners with friends
• Jetta wagons
• Hippie chicks
• Sundresses
• Mid Century modern design
• Austrailian cattle dogs
• The word “lovely”
• The word “kind”
• Music by Keren Ann
• The White Stripes “My Doorbell”
• The Manchurian Candidate
• Fireflies
• American Apparel
• Anthropologie
• Onion soup
• Alon’s Bakery
• Flat shoes
• Guinea pigs
• Campari
• Organic food
• Trusting a woman friend
• Brett

Some of these things are worth taking back.  She can keep Brett.  And the Campari.

FLYER = single-sided letter size printed piece

TGV FRANCE – pub [music by Keren ANN]

What?! You don’t speak German…and you call yourself American.

Ok.  So the only people I know who know any German whatsoever is Sneho and my dad.  But I don’t think my dad will appreciate this band…not like Sneho would.  So I speak to you Sne…do you listen to Wir Sind Helden aka “We Are Heroes?”

Wir Sind Helden is a quartet from Berlin established 2001.  Supposedly they got a lot of airplay time via MTV Europe…but I don’t even watch MTV America…so that means nothing to me.  Listen to one of their songs…any of their songs…and you’ll fall in love, like I have.  They remind me of The Last Shadow Puppets meets MGMT meets an upbeat Keren Ann.

After a few beats you even forget that you can’t understand a word they’re saying.  You’ll find yourself bobbing that head and shaking your leg to who knows what…but you’ll know that it’s good stuff.  Didn’t someone, somewhere, once say that music is the language of the world…or something to that extent?  Or is it, “math is the language…”  hm.  Well, basically I’m saying you can speak American talk and still appreciate WsH.

It’s the kind of music you listen to as you’re jet-setting to Arizona, but wishing you were going to Berlin.  WsH takes you away from your current state of mind–transports you somewhere fun where cookies, candy, and ice cream are all for free (minus the child catcher).

Wir Sind Helden-Die Konkurrenz

Listen…and tell me how much you don’t love like but love love them.

(In ascolto: Keren Ann – Keren Ann)

In attesa che mi arrivi You Are Free di Cat Power, ordinato venerdì su Play.com, continuo ad ascoltarmi l’album di questa cantautrice, Keren Ann, che ho incontrato per caso proprio mentre cercavo informazioni su Cat Power, con la quale viene spesso paragonata. E si sta svelando davvero una bella e inattesa scoperta. Un album molto breve (solo 9 tracce), ma che è una successione continua di perle, in bilico tra la tradizione francese (In Your Back), Lou Reed (Lay Your Head Down) e orchestrazioni a la Yann Tiersen (Where No Endings End).

Video:

Lay Your Head Down

In Your Back

Where No Endings End

]]> http://thefabricofmylife.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/dance-dance-dance/ Thu, 07 May 2009 18:22:22 +0000 kate http://thefabricofmylife.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/dance-dance-dance/

i’ve noticed that recently, when i want to be inspired, or i want to sit back and chill, or even if i want to get up and dance a bit, i keep reaching for music by female vocalists. there really seems to be a great wealth of female talent on the music scene right now, and i for one, am loving it.

beth rowley’s “little dreamer” is a sweetly old fashioned, Motown-esque blend of blues, gospel, soul and jazz – all peppered with a classic mainstream sheen

lykke li’s “youth novels” is already gathering rave reviews and reached #37 in Q’s 50 best albums of the year 2008

“me and armini” is emiliana torrini’s most captivating, ambitious album to date; “jungle drum” is my current favourite track to bop along to

laura marling’s debut album “alas, i cannot swim” is so good it was nominated for the 2008 mercury prize. her haunting track “ghosts” is  a sublime assault on all the right musical senses, propelled gloriously by Marling’s ethereal voice

frou frou may be no more, but their 2002 album “details” is one you should seek out at all costs (actually, very little cost – it’s £4.99 on play right now) for it’s electronic harmonies, and layered vocals from critically acclaimed songstress imogen heap

keren ann is one of those singers who makes love to the microphone, caressing it, coaxing it, and the results are haunting. “nolita” was her breakthough album in the u.s, sung half in french, half english. l’onde amere and chelsea burns are the standout tracks for me

“Au loin, entends-tu le bruit qui court
Au point, juste au point du jour
À deux pas de chez toi
À deux pas de chez moi.”