Dry

(1992, Too Pure) London.

PJ Harvey - Dry

That PJ Harvey’s first album hits me at the first listening with that “direct” and raw sound, based on a simple rock structure (bass, guitar and drum) and with the singing in the front of the mix.

Oh My Lover, as a starter will take your guts out with her gritty lyrics (!). At the same time heavy and moving, I love her raw guitar’s parts and her scorched vocals.

I love Dress and its double bass tempo with a voice which starts low and ends really high, she covers a wide range !

Sheela-Na-Gig surprizes with that little voice at the beginning, soon covered by that thick and groovy sound (allusions to some unsane cities in England ?)

Joe is bold and powerful with all the feedbacks at 1’10″ and an efficient break. I love the drum parts in the Finale.

Plants And Rags is a terrific song with a beautiful acoustic in the couple violin/guitar.

Here is a great live video in london for Sheela-Na-Gig in 1993 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IcdJJsI7ck

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COUP DE COEUR : MY TOP 5

===============

	1. Oh My Lover
	2. Dress
	3. Sheela-Na-Gig
	4. Joe
	5. Plants And Rags

http://www.pjharvey.net/

Who Decides ? Ep

(2013, Lo Recordings) France.

Nickel Pressing - Who Decides Ep

I first met Yann Sandeau (The tall Yann), years ago in Lyon (South of France). He’s a friend of my ex-roommate Jacques-André Dupont. I’ve heard a couple songs by Nickel Pressing at the time, in the krautrock genre.

Jako then moved to Berlin years ago. He directed the special effects on our videoclip “Rock’n'Fall” (http://vimeo.com/5941293) with H.O.Z. He passed by my place months ago and he showed me the videoclip he was working on.

Terrific ! this was Who Decides ? videoclip that you can watch here : http://vimeo.com/64301504. In that electro-rock song, I love when the synthesizer arrives at 1:12 and the way that song is composed.

That videoclip is nominated for a videoclip award in Berlin.

Then Yann sent Nickel Pressing’s ep (great photography !) and I was blown away by Egyptian Cat. I didn’t play a song in loop since decades. That song got the killer sound, it sounds like a crossing between Rainbow Arabia and PVT.

The composition is really great, the soundscapes rocks and I love the vocals as well. It is a mature and really impressive song : Bravo !

With a high level in composition, you’ll find Forest (and its great bass guitar line).

Insel Paradisio has a good composition level too, but with less melancolia, so it didn’t move me.

You need to follow that band absolutely !

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COUP DE COEUR : MY TOP 5

===============

	1. Egyptian Cat
	2. Who Decides ?
	3. Forest

 Site officiel de Nickel Pressing : www.nickelpressing.com

Major

(2012, Sargent House) USA, Providence/NY

Fang Island - Major

And here is a second album by Fang Island, without Nick Sadler that time.

I finally saw them live the 16th of April 2013  @ Le Batofar in Paris, in the Indie Air Fest.

What a slap ! All the songs and the singing is precisely performed. The drummer play really complex parts and it seems so easy for him : impressive.

I was amazed by No Spill Blood’s drummer who join Fang Island on stage as a (talented) bassist !

On that album, the production, the effects and the composition is better than on their first one.

I love this octaver-guitar sound which arrives with the wah pedal at the begining of Seek It Out. The pauses in the drum riff really enlight the vocals. Another massive Finale in that song.

Chime Out has amazing sonorities, between this octaver-guitars and the synthesizers at 2:02 or better at 2:53.

The soundscapes at 1:00 in Asunder are terrific and huge part at 4:40.

Sisterly‘s videoclip is fun and the vocal parts remain in head : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p442OyxMVxg

Make Me is really cool.

Long live Fang Island !

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COUP DE COEUR : MY TOP 5

===============

	1. Seek It Out
	2. Sisterly
	3. Asunder
	4. Chime Out
	5. Make Me

================

Sideswiper 7″

(2010, Sargent House) USA, Providence/NY

Fang Island - Sideswiper

Here is a 7″ with a wonderful song named Patterns On The Wall featuring Andrew WK-The-Magnificient ! You’ll cry for that Finale with a crazy amount of vocal layers.

It is always a pleasure to listen to Sideswiper again and again.

For fans.

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COUP DE COEUR : MY TOP 5

===============

	1. Patterns On The Wall (Feat. Andrew WK)
	2. Sideswiper

===============

Fang Island

(2010, Sargent House) USA, Providence/NY

I discovered Fang Island in looking for Daughters’ members’ sideprojects. And Nick Sadler (guitar) plays in that band.

I really liked this kind of happy rock à la Andrew WK but more melodic and technical.

I really enjoyed the Master-of-delays’ touch in that “happy rock” environment, and it works pretty well.

The sum of : rhythmic guitar + solo guitar + keyboard is well balanced in the mix and give us a beautiful rendering.

Another power of Fang Island, it’s choirs : these are often moving and well-done, that’s why I loved Life Coach and The Illinois.

And in Life Coach, bravo to the drummer and his killer-break at 2:17.

Daisy is the album single and works really good, I like the build-up and the speed-up tempo then at 0:30 : well-done.

Finale in Careful Crossers is awesome too.

Great music, I can’t wait to see their future works ! (many “work” in that review, isn’t it ?)

Please notify the funny cover with the castle costume (I need one) and many great videoclips for this album :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCaojIXbsB0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIurAP4yHtQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfiCqYuC4W8

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COUP DE COEUR : MY TOP 5

===============

	1. Life Coach
	2. Daisy
	3. The Illinois
	4. Careful Crossers
	5. Sideswiper

http://www.fangisland.com

Jean Jean

(2010, D.I.Y.) France.

Jean Jean - Jean Jean

What a slap !

Yesterday (04/16/13) I was with Sylvain Bekaert aka the brave, Marine, Simon, Madeleine, and everyone to see Fang Island Live in Paris @ Le Batofar, in The Indie Air Festival.

Jean Jean is a french instrumental trio, drum/guitar/keyboard who opened for Fang Island and let’s repeat it : What a slap !

Jean Jean play layers over layers with a lot of great ideas, something between Civil Civic and And So I Watch You From Afar. Their usage of effects on guitar and synthesizer is rich and wise, like in Bayonette or Elli Lilly.

The rhythmic parts are amazing and powerful, like in their first song Fresher.

I love the part at 1:42 in With Mountains As Witness and the way that song evolves.

Terrific finale in Iowa at 2:20 !

The live performance was really precise and powerful, impressive !

I bought their vinyle couple weeks ago and I love their artwork.

A great Ep and let’s see them live !

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COUP DE COEUR : MY TOP 5

===============

	1. Fresher
	2. Iowa
	3. Bayonette
	4. With Mountains As Witness
	5. Elli Lilly

Tous les titres sont en écoute gratuite sur leur page Bandcamp.

http://jeanjean.bandcamp.com/

Music From The Adventures Of Pete & Pete

(1999, The Mezzotint Label) USA, Connecticut.

Polaris - Music From the Adventures of Pete and Pete

I discover that album (almost impossible to get a copy ! I waited one year for mine) through Tera Melos cover of Hey Sandy.

It is a one-off album with songs for Nickelodeon TV show “The Adventures Of Pete & Pete” with members of Miracle Legion. Here is Hey Sandy, opening theme of the first season : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY_3uxzkoV4

You could say their music is a weird version of REM or The Pixies.

I think that album is really good and I don’t understand why it didn’t become more popular, maybe because of that weird keyboard in She’s Staggering ?

The song Saturnine is incredible : the singing sounds exactly like Born Ruffians !

I think that the effects on the guitar and the chords are weird in Summerbaby, I like it haha.

Amazing chorus in Waiting For October.

A good album !

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COUP DE COEUR : MY TOP 5

===============

	1. Hey Sandy
	2. Waiting For October
	3. Saturnine
	4. She’s Staggering
	5. Summerbaby

No website

We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors Of Peace & Magic

(2013, Jagjaguwar Records) USA, California.

Foxygen - We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors Of Peace And Magic

Foxygen is a pop duo who plays a music between the pop and rock from the 60′s with a modern touch I love, like in No Destruction‘s chorus.

I love the bass lines in Oh Yeah ! and that high-pitched singing makes me think of Aurélien Gainetdinoff’s beautiful voice.

San Francisco has a cool chorus which stays in mind “That’s Ok, I was born in L.A.”

The melodies and the vocal performance in Shuggie are really impressive, that’s why that song is my favorite on that album (you may think of Mark Ronson’s music on that song).

Let’s have a last trip in the 60′s with We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic (What a horribly long name for a song and an album, thankfully the quality of the music compensates).

The Artwork is beautiful.

A good album !

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COUP DE COEUR : MY TOP 5

===============

	1. Shuggie
	2. San Francisco
	3. Oh Yeah
	4. No Destruction
	5. We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors Of Peace & Magic

Foxygen’s Bandcamp Page : http://foxygen.bandcamp.com/

Nation

(2013, Santeria Records) Italia.

Edible Woman - Nation

New album by Edible Woman, with a better sound and still recorded live.

My favorite song on that album is Cancer mainly for its terrific part à la Future Of The Left at 1:58.

I love the differents bass/synthesizers riffs in Safe And Sound.

The melodies in Call Of The West / Black Merda remain in head.

I love the Man Man’s touch in A Hate Supreme.

Some good songs.

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COUP DE COEUR : MY TOP 5

===============

	1. Cancer
	2. Safe And Sound
	3. A Hate Supreme
	4. Call Of The West / Black Merda

You can stream all the songs for free here : http://ediblewoman.bandcamp.com/album/nation

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Everywhere At Once

(2010, Sleeping Star Records) Italia.

Edible Woman - Everywhere At Once

With that album, Edible Woman takes a different direction from its two first album, with a much more instrumental music. They add too synthesizers parts.

The result reached a good level but I didn’t really feel touched by these ambiences, like in A Small Space Odissey (my favorite in that serie).

I still love a couple exceptions, like Goran Sarajlic and its beautiful synthesizer riffs which makes me think of Clara Clara’s music (again haha).

Then, and the song’s title will give you a clue on why I loved it, Hi, This Is Hardcore Finale at 2:24  is a killer.

Some good songs.

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COUP DE COEUR : MY TOP 5

===============

	1. Goran Sarajlic
	2. Hi, This Is Hardcore
	3. A Small Space Odissey

You can stream all the songs for free here : http://ediblewoman.bandcamp.com/album/everywhere-at-once

============================================

The Scum Album

(2007, Psychotica Records) Italia.

Edible Woman - The Scum Album

Here is Edible Woman’s second album and their music go in many directions at the same time.

The album starts with the terrific Nothing. You’ll find amazing vocal parts, I love the bass line and the drum parts are really impressive, bravo ! (Amazing at 1:24)

I like the energy in Mystic River and in Mouseman.

The singing and ambiences in Honeyed Words are beautiful.

In a different genre, there is that song, When Stars, with piano parts, which makes me think of Clara Clara’s music.

Some good songs !

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COUP DE COEUR : MY TOP 5

===============

	1. Nothing
	2. Mouseman
	3. Honeyed Words
	4. Mystic River
	5. When Stars

You can stream all the songs for free here : http://ediblewoman.bandcamp.com/album/the-scum-album

============================================

Spare Me / Calf

(2004, Psychotica Records) Italia.

Edible Woman - Spare Me Calf

It is their first album, and it sounds to me like the best noise rock album I’ve ever heard, after Shellac, of course.

What a slap !

Only songs with interesting riffs, a lot of energy and a great sound which enlight all that.

It sounds kind of a crossing between Gentle Veincut music, and singing à la The Jesus Lizard.

The part at 2:10 in Five Minutes Later is terrific.

Some more pure energy in The Scapegoat (Amazing at 1:40).

The vocal performance in Into Trouble is troubling haha and the guitar’s dissonants riffs are perfect.

The drum parts in Your Slower Speed are impressive.

The album ends with my favorite song in their discography : Hey… Wait For Me where I love the couple bass/guitar and that crazy energy.

I could continue that list, all the songs are killers.

A Must-Have-Or-You-Have-Nothing.

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COUP DE COEUR : MY TOP 5

===============

	1. Hey… Wait For Me
	2. Into Trouble
	3. The Scapegoat
	4. Your Slower Speed
	5. Five Minutes Later

You can stream all the songs for free here : http://ediblewoman.bandcamp.com/album/spare-me-calf

http://www.ediblewoman.it/

Birthmarks

(2013, Paper Bags Records) Canada

Born Ruffians - Birthmarks

As with each Born Ruffians album, I can’t wait for the release date.

As with every Born Ruffians album, I am never disappointed.

Another terrific record with a terrific production and that in the very first song Needle that you may have seen as a teaser already.

Their music crosses the paths of Vampire Weekend or Toro Y Moi’s early release.

I love the harmonies on Permanent Hesitation.

Ocean’s Deep is in their old songs’ vein.

My favorite song in “Birthmarks” is Cold Pop, a kind of Elvis’ song but in a minor version. The details in production and mix are unsane and the vocal performance unbelievable. Bravo !

The part at 1:35 in In Her Shadow kills.

Dancing On The Edge Of Our Graves is an amusing song.

The artwork is modern and a success.

Another amazing album. One more.

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COUP DE COEUR : MY TOP 5

===============

	1. Cold Pop
	2. Ocean’s Deep
	3. Needle
	4. Permanent Hesitation
	5. With Her Shadow

===================================

Plinky Plonky (Ep)

(2010, Warp Records) Canada

Cover de Born Ruffians - Plinky Plonky (Ep)

Rachael and I saw them live in NY @ Bowery Ballroom on the 2nd of October, and their show was a hit. Luke Lalonde is a talented singer with a shy allure, an amazing voice and total control of his music. I remember the power of Plinky Plonky‘s final song.

I appreciate that all the musicians in the band are very good, and that they add a real groove to their songs, even if the songs seem simple the first time around.

This Ep follows the spirit of their last album, “Say it”, with some instruments added including sax and piano, such as in Like when you.
Born Ruffians only produces hits. That’s to say that they create easy-to-remember riffs that are also easy to sing, because there are a lot of onomatopoeias, like in First Date Kid at 1:47 (it was crazy to see the audience doing that live !). The riffs for each song are really different and not boring.

I really like Retard Canard II which was one of my favorites on “Say it”. I think this retake is really interesting due to it’s brand new production, reggae-like style, which is very different from the first version.

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COUP DE COEUR : MY TOP 5

===============

	1. Like when you
	2. First Date Kid
	3. Plinky Plonky
	4. Retard Canard II

===================================

Say It

(2010, Warp Records) Canada

Second album for Born Ruffians.

The first time I listened too it, I was really surprized by this really simple and refined sound and I didn’t understand why ?

Another mistake : this simplicity is just an illusion.

It let appear the great vocalist skills of Luke (like this great part at 3:32 in Oh Man).

I really love the part at  3:35 in Retard Canard.

The beginning of Nova Leigh is well composed, as always they offer us really good riffs.

The break at 0:51 in Higher And Higher is great and the choirs at the end were Grand in live.

Finally What To Say is the single in that record, I didn’t like it first, but more I listen to it and more I like this construction and the guitar’s sound.

Another great song is The Ballad Of Moose Bruce : A moving build-up

A really good record.

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COUP DE COEUR : MY TOP 5

===============

	1. Retard Canard
	2. Oh Man
	3. Nova Leigh
	4. Higher And Higher
	5. What To Say

===================================

Little Garçon (Ep)

(2008, Warp Records) Canada

Born Ruffians - Little Garçon

This Ep is on two 7″ with 3 unreleased songs.

First let’s talk of the single Little Garçon, I love the finale and the vocal performance in that song.

I love Coldness Hot, the guitar riffs are killers and I love how Luke plays with his voice.

As you could guess from its name, Ready For Bed is a calm and nice ballad.

Wedding Rings And Midnight Strollers melodies are sometimes weird, sometimes interesting. Some good ideas.

Once again the artwork is amazing.

For fans.

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COUP DE COEUR : MY TOP 5

===============

	1. Little Garçon
	2. Coldness Hot
	3. Wedding Rings And Midnight Strollers
	4. Ready For Bed

===================================

Humming Bird (Ep)

(2007, Warp Records) Canada

Born Ruffians - Hummingbird

The unreleased song on that Ep is Knife which is a Grizzly Bear’s cover. It sounds too neutral for me.

The artwork is beautiful.

I love the singing at 1:38 with that organ part.

For fans.

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COUP DE COEUR : MY TOP 5

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	1. Knife

===================================

Red, Yellow & Blue

(2007, Warp Records) Canada

Jako introduced me to this band with that record.

I remember that I didn’t like the music because I listened to it inattentively.

I was wrong and I missed Luke Lalonde’s great skills.

Their intro Red, Yellow And Blue is a good way to enter their universe.

Foxes Mate For Life is my second favorite song from their discography with a terrific build-up at the beginning and this efficient bass riff.

I Need A Life is full of energy and has an awesome part at 3:01. They have a funny videoclip for that song too : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9dP51_WssU

Guitar’s riffs and rhythmics are sick in Kurt Vonnegut : bravo !

Finally Humming Bird is much more classic but still well composed.

This album is my favorite in their discography : All good : A Total-Must-Have.

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COUP DE COEUR : MY TOP 5

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	1. Foxes Mate For Life
	2. I Need A Life
	3. Kurt Vonnegut
	4. Red Yellow & Blue
	5. Humming Bird

===================================

Piecing It Together (Ep)

(2006, XL Recordings) Canada

Born Ruffians - Piecing It Together

You’ll find an unreleased song on that Ep : Raised Huns.

That song is repetitive and the bassline is pretty weird.

It shows some ideas you’ll find later in Born Ruffians ‘ songs.

For fans.

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COUP DE COEUR : MY TOP 5

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	1. Raised Huns

===================================

Born Ruffians (Ep)

(2006, Warp Records) Canada

This first Ep for Born ruffians got my favorite song from their discography : This Sentence Will Save/Ruin Your Life. The guitar’s riff added to the bass line rock the future. The vocals are sick and powerful : a total success.

I really love the energy in the guitar play in Piercing It Together.

Hedonistic Me is a song which is on their first album “Red, Yellow & Blue” and it’s one of their songs which remains in mind.

I really love the part at 1:07 in Merry Little Fancy Things.

the drum pattern with the cowbell is well-done in I’m One Of Those Girls.

This Ep is a Must-Have.

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COUP DE COEUR : MY TOP 5

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	1. This Sentence Will Save/Ruin Your Life
	2. Piecing It Together
	3. Hedonistic Me
	4. Merry Little Fancy Things
	5. I’m One Of Those Girls

===================================
http://www.myspace.com/bornruffians