16 posts tagged “france”
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Benjamin Løzninger is an extremely interesting fellow who makes extremely interesting music. He began his present project, Løzninger, in 2004, when his daughter (who appears sampled on many of his tracks) was born. Before that, according to his bio, "An unverified rumor claims he is an active member of the cult french mysterious-masked collective Oslø Telescopic, famous for their crazy musical debut and graphic trilogy, for having kidnapped the famous French indie singer Dominique A and for their hysterical shows in Europe." I haven't a clue who or what that is, but he may have been a part of it. Regardless, his current music is neither crazy nor hysterical, but beautifully-crafted folk-rock with a bit of a strange edge to it.
His latest work, the Crossweek EP, available in an extremely limited edition of 100 copies from Spain's Moonpalace Records, is a deft album of lovely lyrics coveyed in Løzninger's soft, deep shuffle of a voice over music that is primarily composed and driven by acoustic guitar in traditional singer/songwriter style...but lying beneath and around that simple combination of vocals and guitar are all manner of interesting beats, synth samples, and odd little bits of audiosculpture that give the EP a very unique style. This is most definitely not an example of that clumsy attempt at combining indie-rock with electronic elements called "indietronica," but clearly a singer/songwriter-style EP given a slightly-tilted edge by Løzninger's looped acoustic beats, electric guitar flourishes, occasional samples, and expert production. Løzninger is a genius with panning, arranging musical elements in his tracks so that the complete sonic space defined by two stereo speakers is filled with sharp, clean elements that balance beautifully. You really don't see that much in music these days, especially this type of music.
For example, track 6, "October's Back," is a deceptively simple arrangement composed mostly of Løzninger's voice and acoustic guitar. Your basic singer/songwriter type of track, right? But then you noticed the looped static that introduces it creeping from one speaker to the next, the arpeggiated electric guitar softly sparking in your right speakers, the banjo plucking that fills the entire stereo field, the light cymbal percussion in the left, and finally the layered vocals that give the song a depth unheard of in folk music. The EP is short, clocking in at only 25 minutes, but substantial. The production is amazing, and the lyrics catchy and memorable (especially "Timeback," with its odd "hypnotized by your underwear" hook). Best of all, the tracks are all very varied in composition: all built around the straightforward voice-plus-acoustic-guitar-accompaniment formula, but expanded beyond that with all manner of neat little sound samples, percussion, and other instrumentation.
If you're lucky enough to live in Spain or have a lot more money than I do, you can check out Benjamin Løzninger at the following dates:
- Jul 24 2008 11:45P Universal Exhibition 2008 / Zaragoza
Jul 25 2008 11:45P Universal Exhibition 2008 / Zaragoza
Jul 26 2008 11:45P Universal Exhibition 2008 / Zaragoza
Aug 28 2008 7:00P Hotel de Vogüe / DIJON
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Here are the last couple of weeks in music news. You may remember Ryan's post about Pitchfork Music Festival 2007, well it looks like 2008 will be another great year for this Chicago, Illinois-based organization. The Pitchfork Festival 2008 will take place July 18-20th and will feature over forty bands.
I think this Festival is shaping up quite well, and who knows? Maybe in a few years it will rival some of England's more famous Festivals like Glastonbury and Reading.
For a limited time, Pitchfork and eMusic are giving away 25 tracks for free. Since we have covered many of these bands, I have included links to our previous articles below. Grab it now because last year's 2007 Sampler is no longer available.
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01 Mission of Burma: "Academy Fight Song"
02 Boris: "Ibitsu" 03 Cut Copy: "Lights & Music" 04 Jarvis Cocker: "Don't Let Him Waste Your Time" 05 Spiritualized: "Soul on Fire" 06 Extra Golden: "OK-Oyot System" 07 The Dodos: "Jodi" 08 High Places: "Sandy Feat" (7" Version) 09 Mahjongg: "Those Birds Are Bats" 10 Atlas Sound: "River Card" 11 Bon Iver: "For Emma" 12 No Age: "Neck Escaper" 13 Times New Viking: "Drop-Out" |
14 The King Khan & BBQ Show: "I'll Never Belong" 15 Jay Reatard: "My Shadow" 16 Dizzee Rascal: "Sirens" 17 Fuck Buttons: "Bright Tomorrow" 18 HEALTH: "Glitter Pills" 19 Animal Collective: "Grass" 20 Boban Markovic Orkestar: "Balkan Fest" 21 A Hawk and a Hacksaw and the Hun Hangar Ensemble: "Serbian Cocek" 22 Les Savy Fav: "The Equestrian" 23 Elf Power: "Never Believe" 24 The Apples in Stereo: "Energy" 25 Dinosaur Jr.: "Almost Ready" |
All I have to say is: Dinosaur Jr are still together? Far out.
Other news should really come as no surprise: France is banning pirates, Duffy got some mojo, LeAnn Rimes makes her very own "My Little Pony", Beatles song making it onto Rock Band, insanely expensive gasoline prices are causing indie bands to stop touring, and how to make your very own Daft Punk suit. That last story inspired me to actually want to buy these inexpensive neon lights to design my own "Sleeper" logo shirt or something? Weekend project, anyone?
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Links:
www.weheartmusic.com
I may be doing more of these "quick" snippets, usually in three's. Nothing fancy, just news and notes:
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Tour Dates
06/13/08 Varsity Theater Minneapolis
06/14/08 Empty Bottle Chicago, IL 06/16/08 Drake Hotel Toronto, Ontario 06/18/08 Sound Fix In-Store Performance Brooklyn, NY 06/18/08 Union Pool Brooklyn, NY 06/19/08 IOTA Club & Cafe Arlington, VA 06/20/08 Millcreek Tavern Philadelphia, PA 06/21/08 Arts Center Carrboro, NC |
Item #1: Hey, I'll be attending Annuals' live show tomorrow (June 13th) at the Varsity Theater. I think it's all ages, which means the show will start pretty early (5-6pm). Look for me if you're going to this show also.
Check out their other dates, you can sign up at Canvasback Music for a chance to attend the concert of your choice, runner up receive a free Wet Zoo EP. In addition, if you're in the Minneapolis area, the grand winner will also receive a pair of tickets to the Underwater Adventures Aquarium (I think it's in the Mall of America).
It doesn't cost anything to enter in the contest, so you might as well enter. The worst you can do is not win.
I will write a little more about the Annuals on my concert review, so that's scheduled for Saturday morning.
PS, I just entered into their contest.
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Item #2: Remember Prototypes? You guys love them. It looks like their song "L'Amour, L'Amour, L'Amour", from their third album, Synthetique (out on Minty Fresh), have been recently used in various commercials (iPod and Mitsubishi) and television shows (The L Word).
I got the chance to listen to the said song and it's very cute. Obviously, I still cannot speak French, but it doesn't seem like there's a whole lot of complicated lyrics here... but still, there is something about the French accent that gets me everytime.
My question is, why weren't they on Eurovision 2008?
Item #3: I got this press release about Prince Fatty. I am only mentioning this because I laughed at just his name, as well as his album Survival Of The Fattest.
I listened to the MP3 that sometime comes with these things and it wasn't what I was expecting: it's reggae! Very interesting, I've decided to include the song here as well as mention his two dates he'll be playing:
July 16 Los Angeles The Dub Club
July 18 New York Hudson Terrace
After doing more reading, it becomes clear to me that 'fat' might be in reference to pot (smoke a fatty) because the fatty himself, Mike Pelanconi, is a skinny white dude.
Mike and Fatboy Slim should have a duel. That's right, Survival Of The Fattest.
Links:
www.annualsmusic.com
www.prototypes.org
myspace.com/princefatty
Yup, that time of year again. Europe collectively moans, and the rest of you stare on in disbelief. So I missed the first half (oh, no, how could i...) and the Irish chicken never made it anyway. Still, here's a best of, and it's still going on so expect one or more new ones later...
France
Sebastien Tellier's Divine sounds a bit like Pulp crossed with the Beach Boys. How can he win lose ... win? Lose. Be positive Pepsi... France weren't quite so impressed and got in a right huff that he sung in English. Personally I'd be more worried about all the beards. Check out the Sexuality album it's from for a retro hit.
The first stand out track I saw, Diana Gurtskaya's "Peace Will Come" ain't so good in video form, but along with being one of many trying to goth it up this year, they were much better live. Maybe not those white headed twa... err... but how the hell'd they get changed so fast?
Just caught this on the catch-up. If I didn't know any better I'd say it's the reformed Moldy Peaches. Lord knows they have enough press for it... anyway, it's actually just one guy, Elvir Laković aka. Laka, the song is Pokušaj, and it's damn good once you get past 1.30. Epic in a Baywatch titles kinda way.
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| Cat wrote: Sat, May 24, 2008 at 5:24 PM |
I love the woman who is co hosting. She's like a villian in some bad movie. And a classic moment when they bought out the old girl who won the first Eurovision.
And I can't remember who was singing but the dancers wearing white. The guys in long white shorts and long white socks. Too much. It's always like watching a school concert.
 | daljian wrote: Sun, May 25, 2008 at 3:45 AM |
Björn Gustafsson is his name.
He is an upcoming swedish comedian (Done only swedish stuff I think)
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"Seasons in the Sun" is one of those songs that is massively popular in Asia, especially where I'm from originally in Vietnam. I found out that the song is actually a 1961 Belgian French song called "Le Moribond" (The Dying Man) by folk singer Jacques Brel.
Brel lived in Belgium and moved to Paris in the 70s, and most of his body of work (from 1954 to 1977), was mostly composed and sung exclusively in French.
The song was translated into English and recorded as a song by Rod McKuen, which sounds kind of like Leonard Nimoy's acting/singing... especially at the end, where it gets a little exaggerated. I found the recording on imeem, so hopefully the embedding feature will work out.
Prior to Terry Jacks hit recording, there were several attempts by The Kingston Trio (1963) and The Fortunes (1968), and Pearls Before Swine (1970), but none of them ever got as popular as Jacks' version in 1974.
A couple of notes, about the Fortunes, they are still active (and playing live) and have the "Seasons in the Sun" song available for download on their website, although from listening to it, it sounds like, perhaps it's a re-recording(?). Anyway, some tour dates:
05/24/08 California Cliffs, Great Yarmouth.
06/06/08 Keswick Rugby Club, Cumbria
06/08/08 Whitby Pavillion
06/13/08 Memorial Social Center, Wickhambrook, Newmarket.
06/28/08 Theatre on the Steps, Bridgnorth, Shropshire
07/05/08 Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe
07/13/08 Pavilion Theatre, Cromer
07/19/08 Alvaston Hall, Nantwich (Warners)
07/25/08 Purley Chase Golf Club. Nr Nuneaton.
07/26/08 Artrix Theater Bromsgrove
07/31/08 Canterbury (CUTG)
More tour dates on thefortunes.co.uk
So the story behind the #1 hit song by Canadian singer Terry Jacks, was that Jacks had proposed to The Beach Boys to record "Seasons in the Sun", but The Beach Boys abandoned the project. Jacks decided to record and release the song himself, and to this day have sold over six million copies.
The main difference in Jacks' version and previous versions, was that his version is a little happier, including removing the 'cheating wife' part.
Speaking of happy, Westlife's version is ... let's just say quite interesting. Their singing and upbeat song doesn't really carry across the message of a dying man. At all. Still the song did well for them, although it was eventually left off their Greatest Hits CD in 2002, possibly due to licensing/royalities rights.
A vast contrast to Westlife's poppy version is from Nirvana, who seems to stumble through the song. It's also interesting to note that you see Kurt Cobain playing the drums, instead of Dave Grohl (who looks like he's playing bass in the video).
Also interesting to note is that the song is vastly popular with punk bands such as Bad Religion, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes and Blink 182.
I am including a few other covers below, my favorite is Black Box Recorder, who I've previously mentioned. Their version sounds like a French film soundtrack :).
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Links: www.weheartmusic.com
| Papi Chulo wrote: Tue, May 20, 2008 at 7:04 PM |
Don't forget the awesome version by Too Much Joy (click the Play link next to the track on that page. You can listen to 25 tracks per month free on Rhapsody). They were one of my favorites back in the day, and they still do the best version that I've ever heard. Even better live.
Here are some random album artwork that's sexually suggestive. We're not talking explicit or anything, just some eye-catching covers that I've noticed.
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The first album here is the 2005 self-titled debut album from French singer, Pauline Croze (paulinecroze.com). The cover shows (what looks like) a naked Croze, looking innocent with her doll-like eyes. She was twenty-five when they took that picture for her debut album, but the truth is she started writing and playing music when she was fourteen.
Last year, she released Un Bruit Qui Court, and seems to be more popular than ever.
Neon Neon (myspace.com/neonx2) has a rather suggestive and rude cover for his EP, Raquel. I don't really know much about him, apparently he's currently residing in Los Angeles, by the way of Wales?
This song, "Raquel", reminds me of early 80s new wave dance music, which I like... and apparently other people like him too as he's featured on the cover of last month's BPM Magazine.
Look closely at the cover to 2008's We're In the Music Biz by Robots In Disguise (robotsindisguise.co.uk) and you might be surprised. They're actually naked, with body paint. I guess they're more than meets the eye, huh?
If you got that joke, that's because they stole their name from Transformers[W♥M].
These two English girls reminds me of DIY punk DJs mixing some electronic music (but they also sing). They sound really fun, don't they?
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Speaking of looking closer, does the map of Make it Happen by Nizlopi (nizlopi.com) remind you of something else?
I think the cover is pretty clever actually, nothing too sexual, and at a quick glance, you wouldn't notice the woman's body.
Apparently there's only two members in this band: Luke Concannon and John Parker, two dudes from Leamington Spa in the UK. They got their name (Nizlopi) from Concannon's crush on a Hungarian girl.
While I Walk You Home features what looks like two people about to do the horizontal tango, but with the sunlight through the window, I would have to guess this is the morning after.
Despite the somewhat sleazy cover art (at least I think so), the music of Norway's Dylan Mondegreen (dylanmondegreen.com) is actually quite nice and folky.
Finally, we have a blatant booby cover of What's Wrong With You from New York's The Crayons (thecrayonsmusic.com).
I hope the tanned gorgeous babe on the cover sell some CDs, and as easy-on-the-eye as the cover, they're actually easy-on-the-ear as well.
Check out this song "God Hates Me".
So, this ends the first part on "Sex Sells". I hope to have a collection of "unintentional porn" in my next article. (Please send me some suggestions).
04/15/2008 00:05:20
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Once upon a time I was just a young teenager with bad hair and a glint in my eye when one day I stumbled across a beer like no other. The Year 9 History trip to Belgium was a special time in my life. I had a crush on a girl named Becky, I knew a little bit about history and I was in a foreign land. Good times. I cannot remember exactly why one of the history teachers shared a taste of his beer with me. Maybe it is best the mind blacks out certain details but I do remember that beer. It was called Duval. Well now I am the history teacher and it is my turn to share. Unfortunately, despite all the best technological advancement, I am unable