Pop 'n Cherries

Buggy

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:04:50 +0100

Buggy : Diagrams (Herzfeld)

The long-awaited new essay from the poppiest outfit of French label Herzfeld is finally on track and into the racks.

Buggy is fronted by Renaud Sachet, ex-protagonist of the fabulous Cornflakes Zoo adventure with Les Molies (together with his current bandmate Jacques Speyser - also Original Folks' leader) both accompanied by many musicians from the "Herzfeld galaxy-family".

Lively or nonchalant, naïve or poignant (the wonderful closer A truth), ceremonial or lighthearted, even whistling-waltzing (Enjoy the Show), even Germano-Alsace-anchored (Polska Licht) and even madchester-winking (Power to the People), their music is quite ambivalent indeed, far more broadened than on the previous Blaesheim Hill album, and the setlist is full of absolute toppers (1973, Angel, Movement, A Truth...)!

As if Jarvis was headlining a jam session with Richard Hawley, Peter Astor and Pants Yell! boys Andrew & Sterling. Exhilarating.

=> Buy it HERE

=> Buggy : "Movement"

=> Bonus : Anne Bacheley feat. Renaud Sachet : "Energy"

The Tomatometers

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:41:29 +0100

The Tomatometers : Boys should always look down EP (Autoreleased)

The Tomatometers are Bruno Durand on his own, a French poplover who used to live in London for some time but who recently got back to his homecountry. In the past, Bruno has also played drums for the pre-Maison Neuve band Refry and is still involved in the great unfinished Plastic Pancake label adventure.

After a debut autoreleased demo EP called "5 uncertainties" back in 2007, partly re-released on german Cdr label Edition 59, this is his brand new autoreleased delivery in the form of a CDr EP !

And there's something really disarming about those 4 songs that is going straight to the core... Is it this "Fountain Island" feeling ? Is it this soberness ? Is it this hint of sincerity ? Is it this tiny French touch ? All-true story of course... Check it out by yourself !!!

=> Buy it from Bruno HERE or pre-listen & download it HERE

Viking Dress

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:15:03 +0100

Viking Dress : Summarize EP (autoproduced)

When French songwriter Serge Majewski claims to anyone who cares his deep love for bands like the Church, The Feelies or Felt, it's not an element of surpise to see his new musical project getting the name of a song by the last-mentioned...

Viking Dress, that's a pure jangly guitar feeling with great female choirs, sung in French or English, in between Florent Marchet's fantastic rides (Comme 4), Soy un Caballo's lyricism (Les pelouses) and even some old obscure Cherry Red stuff (Lalie's Game intro).

Sponsored by Midi Association, the administrative structure behind the french Midi Festival, this debut EP has also benefited from a huge soundmixing work by David Wrench (Caribou, Bat for Lashes, Julian Cope, Ian Mc Cullogh...), giving it a totally bright & professional dressing. A must-have-had !!!

=> Get the EP directly from the band HERE

=> Viking Dress : "Lalie's Game"

Burning hearts

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:48:14 +0100

Burning Hearts : Night Animal 7" (Shelflife)

Since the first listen 2 years back, "Night Animal" has always been my fave BH song, and big was my surprise not to see it included in their wonderful debut album last year.

This new single version sounds less dark than the original demo, with some dreamy effects added too. Initial metronomic beat and guitar have been enriched with some additional percussions and folk accompaniment. Still and more than never, it remains my fave BH song.

Best single of the decade, so far !

A. Night Animal

B. A Peasant's Dream (Jori Hullkonen Remix)

Order it HERE !!!

Standard Fare

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:37:11 +0100

Standard Fare : Fifteen 7" (Thee SPC)

As a follow-up to their catchy "Dancing" single and as a foretaste to the forthcoming UK & US release of their debut album "The Noyelle Beat", Sheffield's trio Standard Fare, one of the most exciting acts to have emerged this year, spoils us with this nice-looking blue vynil 7", just in time to help us celebrate the new decade !

While A-side "Fifteen" perfectly fulfills the role of the infectious sing-along hit, B-side "Understand" gives Emma's voice another chance to kiss the stars on a splendid New Pornographers-like tune, full of melodic brilliance & emphasis.

=> Get the 7" HERE

J-M

2009 in the rear-view

Fri, 25 Dec 2009 21:31:51 +0100

Cliquez ici

Fireflies

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:44:05 +0100

Fireflies : Covers EP (Littlemusic)

After that unforgettable "Cherry Blossom Girl" version that staggered everybody's minds, Lisle Mitnik aka Fireflies has decided to gather all the covers he did in the past few years into this brand new free download EP featuring amazing unreleased versions of songs by Joy Division, Asobi Seksu, Talking Heads, Ramones, Neil Young, Shonen Knife & of course... this metronomico-synthetico version of "Hollow Inside", one of The Cat's Miaow best songs ever !

And here is The Cat's Miaow's original version :

=> The Cat's Miaow : "Hollow Inside" (1995)

Also freshly available is the brand new Fireflies album "Autumn Almanac" which will be talked about here as soon as possible. You can order it from HERE.

J-M

Maison Neuve

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:41:20 +0100

Maison Neuve : Touché au coeur 7" (Sauvage)

An unclouded short road with the blessed Refry days... and then again, no wrong foot with the longer Maison Neuve journey ! As a matter of fact, Guillaume Faure and his mates have kept dazzling our ears and minds with each and every release. And this new 7" is no exception.

A-side "Touched in the Heart" couldn't be so pertinently entitled. Starting solemnly and viscerally, the singing quickly turns one octave higher to release the initial tension. This allows the consecutive guitar-wall to catch you up into the whirlwind and just then, you know you have no other option but let yourself get carried away. Masterstroke.

B-side "Au large de la ville", a cruel infanticide story, which is as far as known their sole french-speaking song (and hopefully not the last one), is also a new version of a title included in their essential 2008 "Victor Victor" EP, a bit more powerpop than the original, giving it a totally new bright, primitive and sharp angle. Straightforward.

=> get the 7" worldwide from HERE

J-M

Coach Station Reunion

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:33:26 +0100

Coach Station Reunion : Johnny Cash EP (Autoreleased)

Whether it is to make covers or writing his own numbers, catalan artist Xavi Rosès, also member of the band Fred i Son, knows his Bristol surrounding references...

And no need to show uniqueness as long as you touch the troubled spot !

=> free NEW EP HERE

The Bridal Shop

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:18:54 +0100

The Bridal Shop : In Fragments (Plastilina)

Immersing yourself slowly into the most affecting and impacting release of the year and, at some point, finding out you're the captive of a testament...

The Bridal Shop has never been - and will never again be- so reflective, so desperate, so dramatic, and still, so POP, lively & obsessive !!!

We'll never miss them cos' we'll never stop spinning them over and over again <3 <3 <3

=> "Fragments"

Pop 'n Cherries

Tasia and Friend

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:10:15 +0100

Cliquez ici

Silly Kissers

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:49:29 +0100

Silly Kissers : Halloween Summer EP (Autorelease)

Another tip from our Montrealese branch, here are the young & smart Silly Kissers, revelation of the latest Pop Montreal Festival.

As the artwork suggests, dazzling, shining, crafty, healthful, striking, colourful, floating and fleecy electropop ! Silly !!!

=> A scary video

Laure Briard chante...

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:25:02 +0100

Laure Briard chante (Demo CDr)

Laure Briard' s voice has that little something that makes it instantly endearing, a bit mischievious like Hélène, a bit elvish like Pascale and a bit naïve like Sylvie.

And behind the Muse there's an Apollo crouched in the shadow... His name is Julien Barbagallo (Aquaserge, LeCube), also seen performing with Bertrand Burgalat or Mehdi Zannad (Fugu).

You can count here on pure French POP bliss with classy songwriting, from assumed yéyé hints to semi-electronica landscapes (cfr Margo) to obsessive Vincent Gallo-tripping ballads. this is a sure heart-winner, perhaps only perfictible in the field of homogeneity ! Let's - not secretly - hope for an official Laure Briard release soon !!

Laure Briard chante : "Tatoo"

J-M

Bikini Blueboy

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:23:21 +0200

Blueboy : Bikini 7" (Aquavinyle 01)

Chelsea Guitar

Air France

Sea Horses

Three songs recorded live at "le Bikini", Toulouse (05/94)

Keith (vocals), Paul (guitars), Gemma (vocals), Mark (bass), Harvey (guitars), Martin (drums)

"Love is an ocean so hard to swim, a race we all run but never win, I'm looking for reasons so hard to find, don't think I'll find them but I don't mind..."

Emmanuelle

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:31:19 +0200

EDH : New York Tracks 2001-2002 (Matte Black Editions-2009)

This music was never meant to reach your ears. Keep it for you. These words were knowingly doomed to silence . Do not spread them.

This is Emmanuelle de Héricourt's Book of Exodus. New York was her desert. A trip taken down memory lane. Mirrors are broken. Wings are crushed. Pictures are bleak. So saddening, so beauteous !

Life is hard sometimes but don't worry babe...

You never skimmed through this entry. You're already gone.

J-M

The video below is a foretaste of EDH next album called "Prédature" due in Januari on Lentonia Records.

EDH - Medium waves