Thylacine - Live set @Château de Versailles

The era of lockdown and social distancing has been a challenge for musicians on many levels. Lack of income from live performances, lack of access to their audience and isolation from their normal social and artistic circles are just a few.

However, difficult times have also led to some interesting solutions. Musicians are nothing if not creative.

This live set by Thylacine has been one of the most enjoyable sessions I've seen for a while, showcasing one of the most innovative figures in French electronic music on a unique stage. Versailles provides a  spectacular backdrop, its opulence, grandeur and sheer size contrasting with the solo figure filling the air of this historic monument with the most modern of sounds.

But the size of the setting and the empty spaces also suggests the lack of an audience, he's facing empty space and alone on stage. No surprise that a live date he had scheduled in Paris for next month has been postponed until November.

Thylacine's recently released a new single 1978, a collaboration with Yan Wagner, from the soundtrack for the French TV show OVNI(s).

Thylacine: Train

A new track by Thylacine, Train coming from his forthcoming new album inspired by his voyage on the Trans Siberian Railway and recorded on board the train during the journey.

The intercontinental railway journey of almost 10,000 miles connects Moscow with the Russian far east.

Thylacine has been releasing short videos documenting the trip, with three episodes a week throughout the month of November.

Samples of the rythm of the rails underscore the piece, while images from the journey illustrate the video.

The album Transsiberian us released on November 29.

Thylacine has a busy schedule of live dates in November and December across France, and plays at La Cigale in Paris on February 5

Thylacine: Mountains

A striking new video by Thylacine, for the track Mountains.

Instead of the sights of California, Miami or one of the regular settings that the world of electronic music feature in the videos, Thylacine take us east to Bulgaria, with director Cyprien Clement-Delmas looking at both the bleakness and the beauty of the area, particularly through the eyes of the young people that live  there.

Experts will notice the striking architecture of the Buzludzha Monument in Bulgaria, sitting like an abandoned soviet UFO at the Cantral Balkan mountains.

The statue of Dimitar Blagoev and other concrete relics of the country's past feature in the  video, remonders of the weight of the past, and the unfilfiled promises of a better future.

Perhaps the youngsters in the video are trapped by their circumstances, but perhaps they themselves are the change.

Thylacine's music in this track is both melancholy but with a strength that could be seen as optimistic.
The track featured on their Exile EP, which was released in January.

Thylacine: Closing (feat. Dyllan)

A new release today by Thylacine, with the track Closing (feat. Dyllan).

The song features on a four-track EP entitled Exil that features this track along side Mountains, Anthem and 5th floor.

The Vanishing Point visuals have been used before, the cult 1971 movie also inspiring the likes of Guns 'n'Roses, Primal Scream and Audioslave over the years

Thylacine are a million miles from these more rock orientated acts, but the visuals and the music hold together well, music having been  one of the key features of the original movie itself.

Trans Musicales 2014 preview: Thylacine

I've featured Thylacine on this bog before, noting how their very cool electro sounded "as influenced
by modern classical music as it is by anything going on in a nightclub".

It will certainly be a pleasure to see them live.

I featured the track Sand previously, a striking piece, and the rest of the material they've released so far is of the same quality.

You'll probably hear their work appearing on adverts and soundtracks before too long, Thylacine has the kind of sound that could add a touch of class to anything.

Thylacine is  a project by William Rezé from Angers, and the second EP Blend was released earlier this year. A new EP is due out at the end of January.

Following their set at the Trans Musicales, Thylacine play at the Nouveau Casino in Paris on December 12.

Rencontres Trans Musicales de Rennes: First 10 acts confirmed

Getting to last year's Trans Musicales festival in Rennes in December was one of my musical highlights of last
year, and the first artists have been announced for this year's event.

Last year saw  Stromae, London Grammar and Moodoïd on the bill, as well as the likes of Le Vasco and Public Service Broadcasting.

So far for 2014 they have confirmed DBFC, Den Sorte Skole, I Me Mine, Lizzo, Meta Meta, Molotov Jukebox, Naked (on drugs), Kate Tempest, Thylacine and Vadou Game.

Dozens more will be added to the listing before the event itself, with more to be unveiled on September 9.

The Trans Musicales is a unique opportunity to catch some of the most exciting contemporary acts alongside some more established performers. Since it was first staged in 1979 it has been a showcase for a huge number of innovative acts, from both France and elsewhere.

Preceding the festival itself, some of the acts on the bill tour the west France area from November  13 to November 29

The event itself sees three days of free gigs at the city centre Liberté venue, large scale shows at the Parc Expo outside the city  as well as meetings, workshops, debates and events for schools and community groups.

The festival takes  place in Rennes from December 3 -7

Thylacine: Sand

A video for the track Sand, an almighty piece of modern French electro by Thylacine.

Thylacine is  a project by William Rezé from Angers, who previously released the tracks No Mic Stand and Pleasure.

The track comes from a second EP, entitled Blend, to be released on June 23.

I reckon this track is as influenced by modern classical music as it is by anything going on in a nightclub.

Thylacine play at the Point Ephémère in Paris on June  26 .