Friday 19 November 2010

Pony Pony Run Run

As recomemnded by a friend at work, who picked up their CD when he was over in Paris recently. Great stuff, very contemporary electro.

He was surprised to hear it being played in Top Shop the other day, saying that it was no doubt uncovered by some well-paid cool hunter with a finger on some pulse or other.

The band are from Angers, having formed in Nantes in 2003. The band is a three-pice, with the members hving the easy-to-remember names of G (guitar) A (bass) and T (keyboards) Previous members included S and F apparently. They might yet reappear on Sesame Street.

Tuesday 16 November 2010

French Music Podcast number 7

A quick one today, just a link to the latest edition of the French music podcast. A regular half-hour programme that features some of the latest sounds cming out of the Hexagon, and details of who is touring or playing in the UK either now or in the near future.

There's always lots of great stuff on offer, well worth checking out, hald an hour of your time well spent.

This edition features music by Daft Punk, June & Lola, Fortune, Feloche, NLF3, AD, M & Saez.

Previous editions are also available to listen to on Soundcloud.

French Music Podcast UK - Number 7 - 12th November 2010 by French Music Podcast UK

Monday 15 November 2010

Mesrine: The criminal element

Spent much of the weekend watching (at long last...) the two Mesrine films, L'instinct de mort and L'ennemie public No 1.

Strange, but former public enemy number one did not feature highly in the syllabus of any of the French courses I've attended over the years, but he was a big cult figure.

Every society has their heroic villains, whether the Kray twins, Ronnie Biggs or in Scotland Jimmy Boyle. There are many issues wrapped up in this area, crime and the law, the state and the individual and the concept of freedom versus containment.

Of course, there is the question of whether or not Mesrine was genuniely politically motivated, or an opportunist who attached a political label to his acts after the fact to win favour as an outlaw, as well as the issue of whether his involvement in the Algerian War was the cause of his behaviour, and the controversy of his death - essentially by firing squad on the streets of Paris.

Much to discuss and dissect, but needless to say the voice of Mesrine found a place in the French music world, in songs by Trust, one of France's finest rock bands.

The lyrics of Le Mitard are from Mesrine. The voice at the beginning and end are Mesrine.