You Crazy Dreamers

Second step in our French ballad : New Pretoria ! I discovered this French band in one of my recent web peregrination and to be completely honest, I still can’t believe my ears !

New Pretoria - Photo Credit : Shaddy Lane

‘The Backyard’s Legacy‘, is this bands first full-length, self-released album. It initially came out this past January and as of the 15th of October, a wider new edition has become available at many stores, and not to mention you can also buy it on iTunes and emusic.

A deep dark baritone voice - à la Stuart Staples, guided us through varied atmospheres, referring to many dictionaries and appealing to some common background : Lynch, Morricone, Faulkner… We’re not in France anymore ! From track to track, universes and references are switching without any repetition. The density of this collection is simply amazing ! In this ten track collection New Pretoria rose to the alternative country higher places along with bands such as the Walkabouts, Tindersticks or Calexio…

Stop writing ! Listen…

We sent a couple questions to New Pretoria front-man Stéphan Lipianski.

YCD : Could you please tell us your story with music ?
Stéphan : I’m some kind of music addict. I loved music even before loving good music and I loved singing even before playing an instrument (sorry for my friend’s ears for so many years !). I’m a quite poor guitar player (even if I play for 10 years now) but, hopefully, my musicians are better than me.

YCD : What did you grow up listening to ?
Stéphan : It’s quite difficult for me to answer this question because it would lead me to confess shameful things. I’ve long been into Variety in a broad sense. I remember listening things such as François Feldman when I was 10. My first encounter with pop or rock music was with bands like Pink Floyd (which I still love) or Queen. I was very also found of Elton John . Later (15-16 years old) I became a great follower of the brit pop period. Pulp, Blur, Oasis, that kind of band. But around 17-18 I turned to more indie things. I remember being astonished listening to Cat Power in my bedroom. It’s a quite strong memory.

YCD : According to Syd Matters - you’re an Englishman in Paris ?
Stéphan : I’m a legal alien ! He said I was some kind of Englishman in Arizona. Why not ! But that’s not the truth. I think I’m very French in my musical approach even if my influences are English or American. I don’t pretend to be American, or English. I’m just playing with words, pictures, stories from this Anglo-American culture. I’ve always loved American movies, music and literature and I think that’s where my music and my words are coming from.

YCD : Is there a particular song that you’re really proud to have written ?
Stéphan : I really like Joining Jack on our first record. It’s a very simple song with very few things around. That’s maybe the only song on the record which could have been played with just an acoustic guitar and my voice. For the other songs I’m more proud of the work we’ve done together as a band.

YCD : Is there a song you wish you had written ?
Stéphan : Many ones ! But I would say There is a light… by The Smiths because it’s a beautiful one and I think that I could have expressed things just as Morrissey did. It’s a very romantic and very naive song.

YCD : What’s on your stereo at the moment ?
Stéphan : Proof of Youth by The Go Team. I really love that band because they’re young, they have a dirty sound, they are mixing pop, hip-hop, rhythm ‘n blues. And they have two drummers ! Cease to Begin by Band of Horses which is one of my favorite actual American band. I really like the voice and the production of the record.

YCD : Projects ?
Stéphan : Too many to mention. We’re trying to promote our album (which is not very easy) and to book shows for 2008. But I also lead our own structure, French Toast : I organize show and try to help some Parisian bands to record and promote their music. Later in 2008, I think we will record a new album. Some of the songs on this one are really old ones. I hope we won’t take too much time to record new ones.

Band : New Pretoria
Label : French Toast
If you like : The Walkabouts, Tindersticks, New Pretoria will become a favorite !
You should also enjoyed : Neil McSweeney and the Gents.