Showing posts with label Indie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indie. Show all posts

Thursday, 17 February 2011

ALBUM PREVIEW: Andre Saraiva & Gildas Loaëc Presentent... KITSUNÉ PARISIEN



Another Kitsuné compilation to further establish the label's inherent knack of dishing up seriously tasty electronic beef to satisfy even the hungriest of disco appetites.

 The french music and fashion label's latest album folllows a similar premise to their 'Kitsuné Maison' collections, in exhibiting the talents of  ‘dazzling newcomers and prestigious acquaintances’.

With their previous albums streaming the likes of Digitalism, Penguin Prison, Fenech-Soler, Punks Jump Up and Two Door Cinema Club into our consciousness before anyone else, we'd expect nothing less than dazzling from the french taste-makers.

However the 'Kitsuné Parisien' collection, if the title hasn't already gives it away, steps away from the international scene to focus soley on francophone electronica from 'le capital'. 

Graffiti by Monsieur 'A'
 Compliled by Kitsuné co-founder Gildas Loaëc along with infamous graffiti artist, party go-er and promoter Monsieur 'A' (André Saraiva), the 'Parisien' collection (named after their fashion boutique) showcases some of the city's most promising electronic producers, with some even making their recording debut on this prestigious album.

Kitsune Parisien is also name to their fashion boutique, which opened in Paris last July. In September 2011, they launched a second KP boutique in Barneys, New York.

 In anticipation of it's release next Monday (21 February) Jerry Bouthier has put together a minimix, which is available to download. 

Despite its 'freshness' in music the new album is distinctly 'Kitsuné' in its encompassing, diversely comprehensive approach to electronic sound, reflecting the label's etymological roots; with Japanese tradtion denoting the ability of the 'kitsuné' (Japanese for fox) to change it's appearance and face.

Thus the album has a remarkable ability to offer a varied cross-section of emerging electronic sounds from the Parisian clubs; taste-making the next generation of music whilst appreciating its diversity.

The multi-faceted Japanese Kitsune
The French-sung electro pop of Adélaïde, by Destin, opens proceedings and provides a fitting start to the album, with smooth vocals and repetitive beats layered over a synthy resonance, to lure us comfortably in.

Track two features Birkii; a french violinist turned songstress/producer. Her serene yet funky approach to electro disco irk somewhat thought not entirely of Breakbot. All in all this understated and uplifting track casts no 'Shades of Doubt' and follows track one particularly well.

Birkii
Track three, Reccession Song by Yan Wagner, seriously cranks up the funk agenda. 80s yet très nouveau; familiar yet hard to put your finger on. Maybe if I elegantly put French Horn Rebellion, Chromeo and Empire of the Sun inside a bottle of coca cola and shook it hard, it would fizz out some Yan Wagner.

Housse de Racket - Château (Golden Bug remix) offers an interesting fusion of laidback electro-rock. Think guitar riffs and snare hits littered amongst synth lines, chords and catchy melodies.


The happy-go-lucky disco of Saké by Jupiter makes it a favourite of mine, for the moment. I'd love to hear it on a night out. French/English duo Jupiter, who are a couple in real life, also feature on Kitsuné Maison 9.

Jupiter
Logo are also making their second appearance, this time with Hello.jpg. Computer game-esque and more electro-house than the rest, it's a gem made for a hazy summer's day.

Track seven - RYSKEE feat. Jenny Wilson – Horrors Of Love (Jamaica’s Sunshine Remix) - slips back into funk. Upbeat disco that's worth winding down the windows of your topless car and turning up loud to.

 Youngguns BeatauCue take more electro-techno direction with eigth track Behold. An energetic display of electro laid over repetitive trippy beats.

Beataucue
 Track nine, Glory by Sauvage, brings in a darker mood with it's eerie melodies, unusual structure, soft disjointed vocals and glitchy beats. MGMT-esque for 2011.

1999 by Valley - a track about the city itself - is the album's biggest pop contestant. Pulsating beats, dominant vocals and a catchy chorus that gets better with each listen.

Désorbitée by Exotica again demonstrates the musical beauty of french lyrics. Whether you understand them or not, her soft, elegant vocals do the talking for this single, in sealing its amibient new-wave, dreamy effect.

Saving the best 'til last; Meaning by Cascadeur is nothing short of a musical epitome, justifying its place as the closing track. Rich in classical instrumentation, this emotive ballad sets piano hypnosis against searing vocals. It brings the compilation to a breathtakingly, dramatic end, and in an almost symbolic representation of the entire album leaves you wanting for more.


Pre-order your copy here. In the meanwhile all of the tracks mentioned above are available to preview on YouTube.


Saturday, 30 October 2010

Listening to... 'ON THE LAM' - Kele

I'm not going to lie, I am a MASSIVE fan of Kele, so this post may leave some musical objectivity at the door. But if you haven't yet heard the third single from the Bloc Party frontman's debut album, 'The Boxer', have a listen asap.




'The Boxer' album whilst not entirely removed is a clear progression from Kele's indie-rock roots thanks to a distinct electronic buzz throughout. Single 'On The Lam' takes things one step further. 

 The single makes its entrance with laid back vocals set against pulsating repetition and jagged beats, with drum kicks soon dropping into a grimy bassline of a chorus. Curiously even his distinctive bold vocals are digitally altered, to a higher tenor. 


For some his comprehensive electro-makeover may rather compromise the poetical intensity that we could have expected from a Bloc Party performance. However I think his 'new-wave' approach works here and on so many levels, because it does not detract from passionate melodies and his lyrics still pack a punch; yet it allows the emphasis of this song to be one of musical rather than lyrical progression. 

The result of this lyrical/melodic symbiosis is the kind of song that you can wake up to/work out to/chill out to/rave to. A rare versatile gem.


Most importantly, 'On The Lam' identifies Kele as 'Bloc Party frontman' but as a worthy solo artist in his own right.





Upcoming Tour Dates

15 - Institute Library, Birmingham 
16 - Arches, Glasgow 
18 - Ritz, Manchester 
19 - Electric Ballroom, London 
20 - Motion, Bristol 


Thursday, 21 October 2010

Listening to... 'SHOW ME THE LIGHT' - Mystery Jets

Offically released a couple weeks ago and also on their third album,'Serotonin', which came out back in July, this song still puts a smile on face. And quite a big one. In an age of dying indie guitar music, it's good to see a decent alternative band finally back at the top of my playlist. I even dug out my five-year old tatty beer-stained converse hi-tops this week. Hell It's almost like the good old days! (See I pretty much stopped buying NME in 2006. Along with everyone else, no?)

Mystery Jets

But the new single is not quite 'Half in Love With Elizabeth' (Mystery Jets circa. 2006). In theory, 'Show Me the Light's innovative combination of old-skool bassline (enter Madonna's Vogue), mod-synth (Friendly Fires-esque), indie riffs (i'm hearing KOL) and acoustic ballad-ing (echoes Mumford) shouldn't work. In theory. However in reality it does. The result of this more ambitious musical fusion, here and elsewhere on the album, that goes some way to update their retro, previously predictable sound.

That said, 'Show Me the Light' is still unmistakably Mystery Jets. Or rather, Mystery Jets for 2010. Inventive, yes, but still identifiable by it's distinct 80s pop tempo and yearning lyrics.  
Overall the single is an adequate reflection of the album 'Serotonin' itself. It goes some way to keep with the trademark nostalgic and witty undertones previous fans already know and love... yet by simultaneously infusing a hint of upbeat novelty and new relevance, 'Show Me the Light's smiley melodies may well earn 'Serotonin' more than a few new advocates. Who's on board?


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