If you ever travelled to France by train, you've probably heard the sound-logo of the SNCF (the French railway services). It's the husky female going pam-pam paa-dah. That soundlogo triggered a certain British musician/trainfanatic while on holiday. His love for trains, electronic music and that soundlogo all added up, lead to Train Grande Vitesse, the first single Justin Billinger (the Briton) made with his Dutch partner Michiel Marsman under the Electrique moniker. They hired Liesbeth Esselink (of Solex-fame, pictured) for the pam-pam paa-dah. If you're familiar with Kraftwerk, you also hear the song nods to their Trans-Europe Express. Justin and Machiel usually make music that is used for commercials, this song was picked-up by a French label, and after some hassle with the SNCF and the guy who composed the soundlogo, the song will be released very soon! See the video for it here.
Electrique also made a brilliant French coverversion of Iggy Pop's Sister Midnight. They did not hire a female vocalist for it, instead they translated the song (Justin's girlfriend is French), then fed the lines to a computer speech program. After that, it took some time to tweak it just right. But the outcome is, as I said, brilliant.
Electrique - Train Grande Vitesse
Electrique - Sister Midnight
Iggy Pop - Sister Midnight
Interesting info 'bout the Electrique guys, especially on how they covered Sister Midnight: brilliant indeed. Same goes for the TGV-track on which Liesbeth Esselink appears, pretty cool too! (though I never understood all the fuzz about her Solex-activities; John Peel cán be wrong sometimes : )
BeantwoordenVerwijderenDo you know the coverversion of Sister Midnight by Jared Louche and the Aliens' (ex Chemlab) Covergirl-project? It has completely nothing to do with French music, but it kinda rules. Might be a nice addition to this topic.
Check here: http://www.invisiblerecords.com/bands/jared/index.asp
i heard it. this jared character also did a sleazy version of Air's Sexy Boy.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI've really enjoyed Fille Sourires for a long time and to show my appreciation I have nominated the blog for the 'MP3 Music Blog of the Year Award' at Mega Super Mammoth (at Gravy Bread). (53 nominees out of 1400 possible blogs). The cash prize is a modest $50 and I hope to announce the winner this month. Just thought you should know from the source.
BeantwoordenVerwijderen-Evan G
merci, I am flattered!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenMerci pour that! Great song, this Kraftwerkish one........I don`t agree with Maks: Solex was great!!!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThomas
Guuzbourg - you're a star!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenLove the TGV track - clicked the link for video and sort of reminded me of the Chemical Brothers' Star Guitar
Hello!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenYou've got also a great version of "Train Grande Vitesse de l'Est" from a french electro musician MARBOSS!
The video is also on youtube.
May be more Kraftwerkish than ELECTRIQUE
listen on www.marboss.com