Josianne Paradis

I've been checking out some new names from Quebec lately (here, here and here), and Josianne Paradis' songs really stuck. I just missed her - in March she performed in Brussels. She comes from a family of six (in her bio she states that it was never silent in her house), played in various bands (she plays Wurlitzer, one of my favourite funky instruments) and as you can tell from her songs she's influenced by Camille, Barbara and Ariane Moffatt (new album end of this month!). I like the jazzy vibe in her songs and her soothing voice. Must hear more. Oh, and as far as I know, she's not related to Vanessa Paradis.

Josianne Paradis - Ma Realité
Josianne Paradis - Ces Yeux-La

Remember Nougat? They couldn't get Arno Hintjens to do the male vocal part of their pastiche Melodie d'Amour, instead they got Nightporter. If you're familiair with Dutch avant-rock, you recognise him instantly (need help? click here). Here's the new version:
Nougat - Melodie d'Amour

Cecile Hercule

Remember what I said about Parisian beauty Cecile Hercule? She just put a new song on her Myspace, that underlines (with big fat strokes) my opinion. Move over Vanessa Paradis! (Nah, I'm kidding, but Cecile's really good!) I so hope she will release a full album anytime soon. Or make a great video for this song.

Somebody PLEASE sign her!

Cecile Hercule - La tête à l'envers (misspelled that title first, thanks Franss for the correction)

Camille

'It's hard not to be impressed, although occasionally you're beset by the feeling that you may be marvelling more at the journey than the destination', writes The Guardian today on Camille's new album Music Hole. My thoughts exactly. A part from a few songs (like
Gospel with no Lord, Money Note and Canards Sauvages) it gets a little annoying at times. Maybe it's best to consume in small parts. That said, I have heard only real quick, so my verdict's certainly not final.
Nice review in The Observer.

Camille - Canards Sauvages

Moby

Moby's new album Last Night is a tribute to eclectic dance music in and from New York. 'I essentially tried to take a long 8 hour night out in New York City and condense it into a 65 minute long album', Moby said. A few of those minutes are for a song that is supposed to be a cross between Roxy music and Gainsbourg. The French vocals are by an Algerian singer whom Moby discovered while she was singing a James Brown song in a karaoke bar. I let you decide if she was really a discovery, and whether Roxy or Serge are really paid tribute here.

Moby - Hyenas

Poney Express

No shortage of young fresh acts to burst out of France this year. Take Poney Express. I'd like to quote fellow blogger Aidan on PE's song Paris de Loin: "There's a song on the radio these days in France which captures this longing to burst out of the city and into the country. The song we're talking about, 'Paris De Loin' ('Paris from afar'), exudes this desire to escape the capital. It opens with a pulsating bassline full of adrenaline, and then bursts free with acoustic strumming and brushed drumming like those whirring bicycle wheels we described above. By the time Anna and her breathy voice gets to the opening line ("Quitter Paris..." - 'Leave Paris...') you're already miles away in some rural paradise, drinking wine and eating fine food in the sunshine."
Poney Express are Robin and Anna, a couple onstage and in life, who used to play in Tetard and Louise Attaque. Their just released debut album Daisy Street is a breezy, folky affair with references to their favourite acts Violent Femmes, Belle & Sebastian and Johnny Cash. Ideal album (as said) in the car, under way to a picknick.

Poney Express - Une Actrice
Poney Express - Paris de Loin (CLIP)

Oh, and yes, I forgot to mention his birthday yesterday. Lucky for me, Romke reminded me. Click.

Sound of C mix

When thinking of my favourite filles, I noticed that a lot of them have names starting with a C (either their first or last names, or in the case of Coralie Clement, both). When planning a mix for springtime, this was a good theme. Hope you like it too. Again, it's one big file, 46 minutes long.

Filles Sourires Sound of C mix. Download from HERE.

Tracklist:
Printemps - Cecile Hercule
Ton Ombre - C++
Les Filles Exotiques - Caroline Thomas
Jeunesse Affamee - Pauline Croze (acoustic version)
Canicule - Jeanne Cherhal
Pour La Nature - Barbara Carlotti
Gospel with No Name - Camille
Le Mal Aimé - Clarika
L'Impasse - Coralie Clement
Le Raison de plus fort - Soy Un Caballo
Daniel et Nicole - France Cartigny
Les Panneaux Blancs - Liz Cherhal
Apprends-moi a en Rire - Marie Cherrier
Le Vent dans les Voiles - Marina Celeste

In other news: if you're into Stevie Wonder, you might want to check out the mixes I made with my boogie-down-pal Dewey, over HERE.

Moon Safari Anniversary

The 10th birthday of the release of Air's Moon Safari is celebrated with a special edition of the album. It's a booklet containing the regular album, an extra cd with remixes, live-songs and demo's and a dvd with Mike Mills' film Eating, Sleeping, Waiting and Playing, about Air on tour. I remember not being very enthousiastic about Moon Safari back in the day, only single Sexy Boy and het openingtrack La Femme d'Argent did it (and are still doing it) for me. I liked Premier Symptomes, the first EP by Air, way better. It didn't help that quasi-hip bars and cafés played MS to death, even now I cannot hear All I Need or You Make it Easy without remembering bad rosé on crowded terraces. That said, the extra cd of this anniversary edition features a few gems. The demo of the never-before released Bossa 96 for instance, and Beck's remix of Sexy Boy. Happy Birthday.

Air - Bossa 96
Air - Sexy Boy (Sex Kino mix) IFPI says NO!