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.

Band : Auguste myspace / facebook
Where to buy ? Où acheter : cdbaby.com

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 emusic or 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?

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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 !!!

Artist : Fraser Anderon
Label : Monochrome Records
Where to buy : cdbaby.com, emusic.com
You should also enjoy : Declan de Barra, Colby Stead, Paul Tiernan

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’.

Artist : Oly Arkle Band
Label : none
Where to buy : nothing release as far as I know but ‘Folks Pop In at the Waterhouse‘
You should also enjoy : H-Burns, Deer Tick

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 !

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 :

Artist : H-Burns
Label : Boxson
Where to Buy : right from the label website, amazon.com, itunes

“Un candadien errant, banni de ses foyers parcourait en pleurant des pays étrangers…”
This quote from L. Cohen to introduce you one of his wandering fellow Andrew Sweeny, a canadian poet and songwriter who lived in France for couple years. Sorry for this easy quote teased by some common musical influences – I’m quite sure Andrew have no reason to cry here in France ! If this blog is not the place to discuss about France new immigration policy, so much could be said about it ! Such a shame… sorry I can’t resist.
I’m so proud my country could welcomed a talented artist such as Andrew. But what’s about the less talented ones ? and the untalented ??? Stay in their home land… France, land of Human rights ? I guess we no longer are.

Let’s get back to our interest.. So I have received his press release couple days ago and the best I can do is to spread it :

“The latest Andrew Sweeny Album is avaliable to be downloaded for free. It has been certified by doctors: “Good for your Karma” – Rain of Arrows is offered as a free gift to whoever wanders this way… It is free with the conviction that music cannot be measured only in monies and it is for the listener to consider its worthiness. If you feel that this music feeds your soul in some way, we accept donations, for our bellies and our souls …
Each song is released like “chapters”, with commentary, poems, photographs, a pod-cast and blog – adding spice to the song and insight into the artistic process. We hope that the site will allow the listener to appreciate the narrative of each song and give feedback.”

A 80 MB download and couple album loops later, I’m definitly addicted. It’s time for me to click the donate button and check his previous release.

Thanks to my friend Ralph from Berlin for forwarded me this press release !
For those who are not familiar to L. Cohen discography, first quote is from one of his rare French lyrics song : Un Canadien Errant (The Lost Canadian) from the album ‘Recent Songs’ published in 1979 – damned !

Artist : Andrew Sweeny – Rain of Arrows
Label : Travelling Music
If you love Leonard Cohen, Andrew Sweeny will be a favorite.

Damned coincidence ! I was checking ‘Because‘ website Syd matter’s record label, in order to get more information about his coming dates in New York… and i’ve read a press release announcing the death of Fred Chichin, Rita Mitsouko’s frontman. Such a sad sad day.

One more step in my french tour, and we’re already projected in the coming year, with the announce of Syd Matters third full length on January the 14th : Ghost Days.

Syd Matters is Jonathan Morali scene name : a mix between the two Pink Floyd members (Syd Barrett / Roger Waters) which betrays the parisian songwriter’s backgrounds.

An Ep called Everything Else is plan to be release in the coming days (december the 3rd, listen to the album title. I’ve also post a song from his first album A Whisper And A Sigh released in 2003.

Syd Matters is touring from November 28th to December 4th with his four-piece band in New York. Check his website or his space page for full dates.

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.

Time for me to introduce you couple artists from the French scene. Ladies first, let’s start this serie with Emily Loizeau !
With a double french-british culture, her music is a subtle result of eclectic inspirations from Brassens, Moreau to Dylan, Waits or R. Newman. Be sure this mixture brings unique and varied compositions based on piano, guitar and double bass !

In 2005, she has been signed by Fargo Records – an excellent french label – who allowed her to both released her first full length album ‘L’autre bout du monde’ and produced a surprising duet with Andrew Bird : London Town – a delicious french/english ballad.

Artist : Emily Loizeau
Label : Fargo Records
You also should enjoyed :  Mark Berube, Vincent Delerm, Alela Diane.