Epitonic Newsletter: Vol. 4, No. 20 'For Francophiles'
05/24/02
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We put together this week's newsletter for all you Francophiles out
there. And if you don't consider yourself a lover of French things,
you may become one after listening to these fine tracks, because
they're much like French cuisine -- sensuously delectable! From
Stephane Grapelli to Edith Piaf to Jacques Brel to Serge Gainsbourg,
the French have given us some of the most beloved and enduring music
of the last century. We'll admit, we did sort of fudge it and include
a few wannabe French, but they're pretty cool too. So grab yourself
a wheel of brie, a bottle of red wine, and someone to love, and enjoy
yourself to the tune of this week's playlist. And given the volume
and number of this week's newsletter, you might just choose to
indulge in a little something else too.
...And, in Epitonic news, check out our new newsletter archive, which
features every newsletter we've sent out over the last three years.
We encourage you to browse the back issues whenever you feel the need
to procrastinate from whatever you're supposed to be doing at that
cramped desk. Think of it as the definitive history of Epitonic!
Newsletter Archive.
In New York This Weekend:
If you're in New York this weekend, check out the New York - Tokyo
Music Festival, an event designed to export cool Japanese entertain-
ment to the U.S. and foster a symbiotic cultural relationship between
the world's two biggest media capitals. The lineup will feature a mix
of Japanese and American artists, including Fantastic Plastic Machine,
Nobukazu Takemura, and DJ Spooky.
New York-Tokyo website.
"Long Life Love"
by
Stereolab
For over a decade, this loose-knit French-English ensemble's colorful, playful, spacey music has set the bar for experimental pop. One of the '90s' most influential and adored groups.
"Mellow (Ashley Beedle No Jazz Mix)"
by
Mellow
French electro-pop trio Mellow crafts contemporary homages to '60s psychedelia and '70s progressive with 21st Century instrumentation and studio tools. If Syd Barrett were still making music, it might sound like this.
"The Best Of Us"
by
Fugu
French Anglo-pop of the highest caliber, with an obvious fondness for the soaring, production-driven pop products of the 1960s. Fugu's music falls in line with the svelte, shimmering nostalgia of current bands like the High Llamas, Cardinal, and the Minders.
"A New Life"
by
Ginkgo
In addition to being one of our planet's oldest living trees, Ginkgo is a foursome from France that produces downtempo and house par excellence.
"Indigo Blues with Nicole Graham"
by
Llorca
Hailed as the next St. Germain, Llorca's soulful jazz-influenced house is deep and funky in equal measures. He runs the Brique Rouge label with David Duriez and has licensed his productions to an array of labels, including France's premier imprint, F Communications.
"Mundo"
by
Sporto Kantes
With a bevy of releases on France's favorite Catalogue label, Sporto Kantes is a downtempo duo on the rise. You can file their fireside funk alongside Troublemakers, The Mighty Bop, and Chateau Flight.
"Aux Cyclades Electronique"
by
Bertrand Burgalat
Talk about music for the jet set. Esteemed French producer Bertrand Burgalat -- called by some the Phil Spector of Europe -- crafts lush, exotic, electronic pop with heavy hints of the Cocktail Nation ethos, spy soundtrack melodrama, drum and bass tension, and modern synth-loving indie rock. Grab your martini and get ready to get decadent.
"Planet Vega"
by
Air
Kitsch electronic popsters Air came to fame in '97 with seminal releases on Mo' Wax in the U.K. and Source in France. In addition to their two full-length releases, the French duo produced the soundtrack for Sofia Coppola's disturbing teenage movie, The Virgin Suicides.
"Chick Habit"
by
April March
Remember that magical mystery land called childhood? April March does, and she'll take you on a tour of it with colorful, effervescent little ditties that are lighter than air and brighter than sunshine -- all with a decidedly sexy French twist.
"Ecole de Merde"
by
Les Sans Culottes
Ye-ye a go-go! Les Sans Culottes are a bunch of Francophilic Brooklynites who play a campy brand of raunchy French rock and roll that works both as satire and loving homage.
"No Time To Lose (Dirty Hands Mix)"
by
Les Macons De La Musique
Les Macons De La Musique (or music masons, for those not familiar with the French tongue) are a pair of talented young producers from Paris. They make deep moody house music together and individually for a host of top labels including 20:20 Vision, F Communications, and Gourmet.
"Spanish Harlem"
by
The Youngsters
The Youngsters cite Detroit techno as the driving force behind their production. Listen to their textured chords and compressed beats and decide for yourself if they are indeed France's answer to Underground Resistance.
"Sirocco"
by
Christophe Goze
Chistophe Goze's fusion of Middle Eastern strings, traditional North African percussion, and modern production techniques would make the perfect soundtrack for a contemporary Casablanca. Play it again, Chris.
"Dolly Sisyphus"
by
Paloma
Paloma is a French singer-songwriter named Laurent Vassi?re who sculpts delightfully strange electro-pop creations and breathes a strange, sweet, alien life into them.
"Bivouak"
by
Double Nelson
French-fried swamp funk mixes with dilapitated sci-fi sound collage for a
Tom Waits-meets-Barbarella taste sensation. Gurgling beats and exotica
straight out of the real
underground.
