Somebody up there likes me

Matthijs van Nieuwkerk, die de liner-notes schreef voor Filles Fragiles #2, citeert deze week in zijn column voor de Vara Gids uit een recensie die ik schreef over Charles Aznavour. Zie hier.

(Matthijs van Nieuwkerk, the Dutch tv-journalist who wrote the liner-notes for Filles Fragiles #2, mentioned me, my compilation-cd's and a review I wrote in his weekly column for the very cool tv-guide Vara Gids. It's a Dutch thing.)

Oh Canada: Jorane

Our favourite Texan Ken made a guestpost for Oh Canada-month about Jorane:

What do you get when you combine the vision of a poet with skills of a classically trained cellist? Allow me the pleasure to introduce you to Jorane Peltier (known simply as 'Jorane') - a thirty-something singer/songwriter/cellist from Quebec.

Comparisons are largely useless, but just to give a point of reference - how about Kate Bush meets Tori Amos...or maybe equal parts Portishead, Madeleine Peyroux, and Camille. Well, regardless of the comparisons you want make, Jorane's music is wonderfully evocative, compelling, lush, exotic, beautiful, experimental, and just plain lovely.

Categorizing her music is not an easy task - Jorane has forged a distinctive sound all her own -- not quite ambient, not quite folk, and not really classical, either. Through the use of her haunting, pixie-like voice and the bewitching style of her cello work, she weaves a sonic dreamscape that will leave you mesmerized and captivated.

Haunting...Bewitching...Mesmerizing...Captivating

Truly, this is the stuff of obsession.

Jorane - Elmita

Oh Canada: Chloé Sainte-Marie

Brûlots by Chloé Sainte-Marie was taken from the compilation Putumayo presents Quebec. So far, it's the only song I've heard by Chloé (real name Marie-Aline Joyal), who hails from Drummondville. She's an actress turned singer, and recorded three albums so far. From the liner notes of the Quebec comp: 'Brûlots is from Sainte-Marie's 2002 album Je marcha á toi. It is based on a poem by Quebec writer Patrice Desbiens, with music composed by her frequent collaborator Gilles Bélanger. The title refers to a small fly, or midge, that is prevalent in the summer in Québec. Sainte-Marie sings of the gentle yet passionate intamcy of love. 'Oh sweet drop of rain, oh sweet rain coming in, on the furrow of my skin, you name calls out to mine.'

Chloé Sainte-Marie - Brûlots

Brazilian Interlude: 3 Na Massa

Luciane from Brazil on the seductive, Gainsbourg-inspired music by 3 Na Massa:

With 13 Brazilian seductresses on the loose, there's no escaping 3 na Massa, the kinky and sweet side-project of producers Rica Amabis (Instituto), Dengue and Pupilo (Nação Zumbi). The three guys are the beats and most of the lyrics, but the flavor in this dough is really the variety in the spice: the singers and actresses invited to perform on each track of their self-titled debut album. Instead of passive bossa nova muses, these women do one hell of a job giving voice to the minimalistic, intense and boudoir-like poem-lyrics -- all talking about men and women and everything they can do under the tropical sun. Think Chico with a Gainsbourg twist. Both were an inspiration, and Serge comes out really strong in Certeza, which sets the mood and is just the right intro to entice les filles fans. Leandra Leal (pictured) whispers an open invitation for you to follow her lead. With her confessed fertile imagination and predisposition to please, who needs more? The provocative and playful beat combined with her irresistible appeal just make you titillate with anticipation. Twelve more seductresses ahead and I doubt you'll care you don't know a word of Portuguese.

3 Na Massa - Certeza
Video HERE

Oh Canada: Catherine Major, Stephanie Lapointe

Two songs from French-Canadien girls who were featured before on this blog (here, and here), taken from the same Héros for War Child-album, and both with an English title. They're both covers, and sung (partly) in French. Very tender songs, especially the one by Stephanie Lapointe who has a gorgeous giflie voice (and is pictured). Wonder where this Star Academie contestant will go on her second album. I'll try and post some songs from Catherine Major's latest album later this Oh Canada-month.

Catherine Major - Lucky Lucky
Stephanie Lapointe - Desert Inn Motel

Oh Canada: Amylie

Most visitors and me went all gaga for Coeur de Pirate last year, and rightly so. But Amylie from Montreal (by way of Mascouche) is worth drooling over just as well. Her debut Jusqu'aux Oreilles was released in '08 and features tender songs with lots of electric piano and a fragile voice that reminds me of the first Camille album. Found a few appreciative reviews, but my impression is that Amylie Bruit didn't make a big impression on her home turf (could be wrong here). Shame, because songs like the ones featured here need to tickle as much ears as possible.
One reviewer compared Amylie to La Patere Rose, an electronica-trio with an equally lovely sounding singer. Couldn't find mp3s, but here's a video.

Amylie - Mes oreilles
Amylie - Les pieds dans les larmes

Oh Canada: Call Me Poupée

Oh Canada-month on Filles Sourires kicks off with the Canadian Lovers: Call Me Poupée. A duo consisting of Ken and Poupée, the latter wears garters, stockings, panties, a bra and not much more on stage (oh, and sunglasses). They hail from Montreal, released one album and just like their counterparts The Lovers they refer to Serge & Jane, country and that good time rock 'n roll. They describe their music as electro-tex-mex-twang-garage with a beatbox, and that's spot on. See video here. Myspace here.
This month, it's just French-Canadian music on this blog. Guestposts and tips are more than welcome!

Call Me Poupee - Sex Symbole