I’m not sure but I guess that except from that one track from Emily Loizeau, I’ve never found the opportunity to post (about?) a single french lyrics song. To renew this prowess – i’m a bit shameful – I needed to pick a track from this huge canadian pond, a band from Quebec : Auguste !
They’ve just released on May 6th, their first eponymous ep ; a too short 4 beautiful compositions high on emotions. Born from the ashes of a previous band (August and me) using english compositions, frontman Sébastien Pomerleau finally chose his mother tongue to cover some addictive melodies and delicate arrangements.
I’ve got few information about this french band and I’m not sure I want to spend more time seeking for. “Jil is Lucky“ just released their first full length and this video… Enjoy !
Here is an album that completely passed me by but that’s no surprise seeing it’s made by Frenchman Philippe Cohen, dj, producer and the main man behind The gotan project. I mean why would I look towards an electronic french band when looking for a bit of country? Thing is, this really is a straight up, full on country record with no hint of The Gotan project at all. It’s a bit like Dolly Parton making a drum and bass album, a complete departure from ones comfort zone. Thing is, it works brilliantly. Recorded in Nashville with some of the best musicians they have to offer, Jim lauderdale, David Olney, Sam bush and Melonie Cannon to name but a few it’s an album that is as raw as it is challenging. Co-produced by Bucky Baxter (Bob dylan, Ryan adams) They even throw in two covers but no, not old fashioned classic country covers but Abbas Dancing Queen and the Sex Pistols Pretty Vacant no less. All done in a country style of course, unbelievable ! On the ya basta record label you can download this from emusicor there is a vinyl release of which I’ve just ordered, in my case from HHV but there are other places around. This is my new favourite album of the year because it could easily have gone totally wrong. An electronic/dj/producer going to Nashville to make a record? Now I think that’s pretty challenging and then to make one as brilliant as this I think is a stroke of genius. This isn’t cheesy country, It’s a sad, mournful gospel filled proper country album and every country music fan should own it. Love it !!
What I want to know is why Olly has never mentioned this? Can’t be many frenchmen going to Nashville to make country records, are they?
Too Hi …It will be the shortest post I’ll ever wrote ! I was looping an unbelievable track today, as my kids were playing around… and my younger son – 3 years old, was just singing along with Fraser Anderson : TOO HI. Imagine the power of this song !
Well, this awesome, amazing composition is reaching the high-level of few classics ( The Dock of the Bay ) – simply irresistible …
Of Course, I bought the Fraser Anderson complete discography available on emusic.com : magnifique ! Be sure, I’ll be back blogging about him in the coming weeks as this Scotland’s French resident leaves just around my corner – I can’t resist tagging this post as French – hehe… let’s deal a whiskey with those proud Scotsmen !!!
Don’t leave this page without check his myspace : ‘Rags and Bones‘ is another five stars rated tracks !!!
It’s a long time, I did not write a single line about French music. If you were expecting a review from the last Carla Bruni-Sarkozy album, you’d better read : http://pop.gouv.fr. I was thinking streaming a famous Jacques Dutronc song : ‘L’Opportuniste’ (lyrics) in order to illustrate our president attitude these past months… Yes to be honest, I’m not really proud to be French these days.
Anyway, I can’t tell you how I’ve been directed to Oly Arkle’s music but those froggies really rock. I’ve got so few information about them that I’m even not sure these guys are really French… According to their myspace page, the band is leading by Javier (vocal, guitar), while Damien is playing bass and Stobal are dealing with drums. One of their song (From Paris to Barcelona) is available on the Waterhouse records compilation ‘Folks Pop In at the Waterhouse‘ including artists such as Herman Düne, Julie Doiron, Flowers from the Man who Shot your Cousin, Paloma…
Oly Arkle is sometimes named Olly Arkle (it could be useful if you want to google), and couple videos are also available under the name of ‘Trucks & Bohemians’.
Here’s what I’ve found in my junkmail… Call me a spammer, but I can’t resist sharing with you this message from one of the best Indie French Label : Fargo Records.
Summer is almost there… blah blah… To get our new 8 tracks sampler, just click here and fill in the ‘fargo‘ password and your e-mail address, you’ll received an e-mail with a link to download it – even if the mail is in French, you won’t be lost !
Find below the tracks listing :
1. Alela Diane : The Rifle ( from The Pirate’s Gospel)
2. Alela Diane : Pink Roses (unreleased yet) !
3. Dawn landes : Kids In A Play (from Fireproof)
4. Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter : The Air Is Thin ( from Like, love, Lust & the Open Halls Of the Soul)
5. Chris Garneau : Relief (from Music For Tourists)
6. Chris Garneau : Saturday – (unreleased yet) ! 7. Laetitia Sheriff : Hulabaloo My T.V. Ratings – (To be released on Games Over – May 27th) !
8. Clare & The Reasons : Pluto – (To be released on The Movie – August 26th) !
Even if some are already favorites (Alela Diane, Dawn Landes, Jesse Sykes, Chris Garneau), those unreleased should teased your curiosity. Enjoy !
sb_url_to_rate = 'http://youcrazydreamers.com/2008/05/13/fargo-records-free-digital-sampler/';
sb_rated_title = 'Fargo Records free digital sampler';
sb_when_to_load = 'immediate';
try { sb_rated_creation = new Date(Date.parse('Tue, 13 May 2008 02:21:30 +0000')); } catch (e) {};
sb_categories = "French,Indie,News";
Let’s pursue our little tour on the French music scene. More and more artists are leaving the French language adopting English in their songwriting process and I can’t blame it – what’s about a french version of this blog ? For Renaud Brustlein also known as H-Burns, the language matter doesn’t even arise… As soon as you’ll hear the first notes of his second album – How strange it is to be anything at All - you can’t almost imagine dealing with a French artist ; sure if accent can betray, his musical roots are far to be drawn from our national landscape.
H-Burns cited L. Cohen, Dylan, Smog, Oldham, Van Zandt amongst his influences and I guess none of them could deny a part of paternity in this folk album. H-Burns first full length, ‘Songs from the Elecric Sky’, was a pure – and beautiful – acoustic album. The brand new songs collection received the participation of Syd Matters and Thousand & Bramier. And for sure, this friendship gave to our Ardéchois folk singer a new dimension. A new dimension or a larger horizon with the addition of various instruments – such as banjo, mandoline and a musical saw and some superb arrangements… A larger horizon but without loosing this single point of view which allured me on his debut album ! And as usual, when all the songs deserve to be listened, here’s the opening track :
All audio posted on this site is meant for sampling purposes only. If you really like what you hear, show it and support the artist - buy an album, buy some merch, got to a show. If you represent or own any media on this site and would like something taken down please email us, and we will take the necessary action of removing the file(s). Please contact us at 5crazydreamers@gmail.com with any comments, concerns or feedback and suggestions.
Here’s what I’ve found in my junkmail… Call me a spammer, but I can’t resist sharing with you this message from one of the best Indie French Label : 
H-Burns cited L. Cohen, Dylan, Smog, Oldham, Van Zandt amongst his influences and I guess none of them could deny a part of paternity in this folk album. H-Burns first full length, ‘Songs from the Elecric Sky’, was a pure – and beautiful – acoustic album. The brand new songs collection received the participation of 
