Marina

So, the Dutch show (March 6, Amstelveen) of Marina Celeste has been cancelled. For reasons unbeknownst, but there will be a retry after summer. It might have something to do with Marina's new project. In English. But wait: on her Myspace is one French song too: a translation of Shivers down my spine. Exactly the feeling I got when I saw the video above - how I adore that teasing little smile of Marina, that look-but-don't-touch-curl. As far as I know, her Through the Looking Glass EP has not been signed, and I'm not sure our hero Marc Collin is involved (UPDATE: Marina writes: "The tracks are produced by Peter Morris"), but Marina has definitely said adieu to Nouvelle Vague. So welcome Marina UK!

Marina Celeste - Under My Skin
Marina Celeste - Shivers down my spine (French version)

SOM has a great acoustic cover by the lovely Berry.

Chez les ye-ye's

Ok, drop what you're doing. Download the Minimatic remix of Serge's Chez Les Yé-Yé's. In the meantime, move all furniture to the side. Put on your dancing shoes. Turn op the volume. No, louder than that. Grab your partner. Ready? Press play. You hear that? The word you're looking for is: ecstatic. That's what I felt when I heard Mini's remix for the first time. And I'm still feeling it, ten plays on. Yes, it is B-R-I-L-L-I-A-N-T. Minimatic, what a stylish hero!

For good measure, here's also the original, a cover by Etienne Daho and one by the Cafe Accordion Orchestra. Plus, ofcourse, how could I forget, the version by ms April March.

Serge Gainsbourg - Chez Les Yé-Yé's (Minimatic remix)
Serge Gainsbourg - Chez Les Yé-Yé's
Etienne Daho - Chez Les Yé-Yé's
Cafe Accordion Orchestra - Chez Les Yé-Yé's
April March - Chez Les Yé-Yé's

Isis vs Serge

There's only one way to cover Serge's Love on the Beat: upping the racey factor. Isis, consisting of Czech-born Hana and German Antje (and producer Jerome Badini) are doing just that. It's not better, but you definitely get some Eyes Wide Shut-like scenes in your mind when listening. Or six million volts in your, ehm, pylon?


Isis - Love on the Beat
Serge Gainsbourg - Love on the Beat

Little

Aurelie Nguyen, aka Little, is a great admirer of Britney Spears. I guess that's the pop princess Britney, not the crazy, drunk, papparazzi-bumping mother-from-hell Britney. Little is Aurelie's nickname for a long time. She's 20 years old, and from Vietnamese descent; her mom and her brother were her first musical influences (mom sang Vietnamese songs, bro played acoustic guitar), but we shouldn't think the Nugyen's are like the Corrs (thankgod). A part from Britney, Aurelie also likes Pauline Croze and Anaïs. Which is nice. Last year she released an EP, her album will released in April. An acoustic version of Je Veux Des Violons is here. Myspace here.

Little - Je veux des violons (Merci Natasha)
Little - Chanson de Filles (Merci SOM)

If you think that last song is cute, watch this

HKU vs. Serge

Whenever Serge comes into play, I''m all ears. Barcelona-based triphop-artist HKU (Haiku) has made a beautiful, mysterious track featuring Serge's mumblings (probably) taken from an interview. If you're into mostly instrumental, cinematic, hiphop-influenced music, HKU's album Soukha is a real treat. He's giving it away (for a small fee, or no fee) at his site. Go check.

HKU - L'Histoire d'un Homme

Monade, Phoebe Killdeer

"If you can create even the slightest variation on one of the most distinct sounds in indie rock without losing what makes it work, the question of stylistic redundancy feels a bit like nitpicking", is what Pitchfork says about the differences between Monade and singer Laetitia Sadier's other band, Stereolab. Monstre Comic is the third album by Lae and the band, and held together by an abstract conceptual notion of how light and shade interact. Or something. It's arty, you know. Although I still prefer 90s Stereolab, there are some great songs on this album. Like the dreamy Messe Joyeuse, and the long Entre Chien et Loup, that exactly halfway changes from slow indie to percussive punk. Nice.

Monade - Messe Joyeuse
Monade - Entre Chien et Loup

Also released is the soloalbum by Phoebe Killdeer, who we all know of Nouvelle Vague. It's in English, and produced by Marc Collin (ofcourse), and it features uptempo, leftfield countryrockish songs. Think Tom Waits, listening to Johnny Cash and imagining himself as a sexy girl. Experienced French pop aficionado's immediatly recognise the bif! bang! pow!-sounds in the song Big Fight as references to Serge & Brigitte's Ford Mustang.

Phoebe Killdeer - Big Fight

Read a great review of a live show by Yelle in New York here, plus download an acoustic (!) version of one of her songs.

Celine Dion

One of my pet peeves is Celine Dion. But not anymore. After seeing this, I think she's fucking amazing. And so will you.


Oh, and this blog's been nominated for a Dutch Bloggie Award in the Music category. Merci!