Review: Grand Blanc - Image au mur

I've said before that Grand Blanc are one of the acts I point to when I'm asked if French music actually does has anything to offer.

Their debut album, 2016's Mémoires vives was an assured collection of electro-flavoured rock, and even regular listening since doesn't diminish its impact. Tracks like Montparnasse are as jaw-dropping now as they were when I first heard them.

Wisely they didn't rush to make their debut, coming out as it did two years after their first EP. The time they spent perfecting their craft paid off, with both a memorable first album and a reputation as an impressive live act.

Image au mur doesn't feel like a second album by a band on an independent label. But Grand Blanc are more than a regular band, and Disques Enterprise - home of Fishbach, Bagarre and Moodoïd and other French language acts - punches far above its weight.

There's a lot going on in Image au mur, again you get the feeling they've thought things through, worked at it and allowed things to develop. There are moments of epic rock, like in Ailleurs, but they avoid it being empty gesture. There are thoughtful passages, like the REM flavoured Télévision, but it never gets too introspective.

The production of Image au mur provides an elegant stage for the voices of Benoît David and Camille Delvecchio. In the best tradition of Depeche Mode and New Order, for all their use of technology and electronics, there is a humanity at the core of Grand Blanc that lifts them.

Belleville perhaps continues a tendancy for songs named after quartiers of Paris, a punchy and immediately likeable song with a stylish and sharp Paris punk flavour. Los Angeles a serious slice of electro pop and Rêve BB Rêve a nod perhaps to Depeche Mode and to New York electro-punk pioneers Suicide. Ailleurs might start with a 60s French pop feel, but soon moves into a widescreen epic place, before returning to more Cocteau Twins dreamscape.

Image au mur comes out not long after Grand Blanc supported French rock veterans Indochine at dates in arenas around France and beyond. Listening to the album, you can imagine the same respect and longevity ahead for Grand Blanc.

Grand Bland - Los Angeles

If there's one album I'm really looking forward to next month, it's the second album by Grand Blanc.

Grand Blanc are my go-to band when I'm asked to name an astonishingly good French act that aren't widely known in the UK.

Their Mémoires Vives debut, released in 2016, followed their self titles EP and the Montparnasse, both establishing Grand Blanc as one of France's finest modern electro rock acts.

They spent most of last year recording their second album, and have spent much of this year touring in support of Indochine, one of France's biggest acts. They'll have certainly got the full attention of the many Indochine fans that have seen them.

With the album emerging at the start of La Rentreé, France's post summer holiday period, my suspicion is that it will have an absolutely massive impact.

Image Au Mur is released on September 14, and Grand Blanc have tour dates from October. They play La Cigalle in Paris on November 26.

Grand Blanc: Verticool

A new video by Grand Blanc for the track Verticool, in quite a different visual style from their previous offerings.

The music remains as gritty and epic as ever.

It's another track from their Mémoires Vives abum that was released earlier this year,  probably one of my favourite French releases this year.

Grand Blanc have some festival dates in France and surrounding countries, including the Paleo festival in Nyon, Switzerland in July 19 and Rock en Seine on August 28.

Grand Blanc: Bruxelles Ma Belle session

Nice session by Grand Blanc filmed at the Autoworld car museum in Brussels.

The video comes courtesy of Bruxelles Ma Belle. who I probably should be paying closer attention to given the quality of the material they've been producing.

The track Disque Sombre comes from the band's Mémoires Vives debut album which was released in February this year.

Grand Blanc have just finished the first part of their tour, which saw them play in France, Belgium and Switzerland.

They have forthcoming live dates in May and festival appearances over the summer include Rock en Seine and the Beauregard Music Festival.

Grand Blanc: Surprise Party (Clip)

A new video by the mighty Grand Blanc for the track Surprise Party, regular favourites of this blog,  with a clip emerging for their new track Surprise Party.

The track emerged at the end of last month, living up to the expectations that have been raised by the band's earlier releases.

The clip meanwhile displays the same kind of cinematic awareness that they've employed previously.

Surprise Party will feature on the band's debut album,  Mémoires Vives, which is expected to be released on February 19 next year.

Grand Blanc: Surprise Party

A new single by the mighty Grand Blanc, the track Surprise Party emerging today ahead of the
release of their album.

The Paris-based four piece were one of the highlights of last year's Transmusicales fastival in Rennes, proving to be as impressive  alive act as their previous releases led me to hope.

The band's earlier releases make it clear that their album will be something to look forward to in the new year.

Grand Blanc's debut album, to be entitled Mémoires Vives, is scheduled for release in February 2016.

Un été d'Enterprise

An event worth attending in Paris this evening if you're in the area, with Enterprise Records hosting  at evening at the Ground Control venue.

Enterprise Records has been home to some of the finest francophone talent to emerge in recent years, and the soirée features DJ sets from many of them.

There will be sets from Lafayette, Moodoïd, Grand Blanc, Bagarre and Blind Digital Citizen. Acts that are well known to regular visitor to this blog, I'm sure.

While it would be nice to see all these bands play live over the course of one evening, the DJ sets are bound to be interesting and eclectic.

Ground Control is a pop up  venue in the 18th arrondisement, housed in a former SNCF depot, a remarkable location for what looks set to be a remarkable night.

Grand Blanc: Inrocks Session

A great two track session by favourites of this blog Grand Blanc.

The session for Les Inrocks.tv sees two tracks from their recent EP, Montparnasse and Nord.

The novelty of seeing video of a great band in their relative infancy in such quality doesn't ever get old.

Their Montparnasse / Nord single has just been released on vinyl.

Grand Blanc have been playing in Canada, and play at the Solidays festival in Paris on June 27



Inrocks Session : Grand Blanc by lesinrocks

Grand Blanc: Montparnasse

A new clip by vive le roq French music blog favourites Grand Blanc, with a big budget court métrage  style treatment for the song Montparnasse.

It's a slow burning and intense piece, confirming my suspicions that Grand Blanc are a band that have been touched by greatness.

The single, which also features the track Nord, is available later this month and is available to pre-order.

It follows the release last year of their four track Self titled EP. A debut album is expected next year.

Grand Blanc play festival dates in Montreal this month, and at the Solidays festival in Paris on June 27 and at the Les Eurockéennes festival next month.

Les Trans Musicales 2014 playback: Grand Blanc

One of the good things about the modern festival is that so much is now filmed professionally and
shared online.

You can re-watch highlights, or catch things you missed without having to rely on badly filmed and expensive VHS from a dubious source. It's a nice touch that much of the video content is available to watch internationally too.

I know licensing isn't easy, and filming events is not cheap, but the money spent here not only reflects well on the festival but also allows it to reach a far wider audience that those who actually were able to attend the shows in Rennes.

In the review of the event I posted at the weekend , I said that Grand Blanc were the highlight of the festival. Here's the evidence.

You'll probably be nodding in agreement after watching.


 

Report: Les Trans Musicales de Rennes 2014

Make no mistake, the Trans Musicales de Rennes is a lot to take in, with acts playing in both the city centre in the  early evening and in the halls of the Parc Expo by the airport on the outskirts of the city at night.

It's also an eclectic mix, with acts ranging from the experimental to the mainstream, from France and beyond.

From local acts at the Liberté and the Ubu, it's a platform for emerging talent as much as for more established acts performing to packed halls in the early hours, but principally its an experience to immerse yourself in a well-selected programme of acts.

If last year the event was dominated by Stromae playing a packed out hall on the Friday night, this year saw the same enthusiasm and crowd sizes for the likes of Rone and The Avener in the massive Hall 9.

But the festival gives a massive platform to acts on the rise, with Jungle and Moodoid among those benefiting from some Trans Musicales attention.

The personal highlight this year had to be Grand Blanc. They were and act I'd been looking forward to seeing them, and their take on electro-informed rock  hit the spot.  You could  detect the DNA of bands like the Cure and New Order in their bloodstream, but traces of post-punk French electro pop pioneers like Ellie and Jaco were also evident.

There was much to love in what they were doing, and the fact that they have yet to release their debut album suggests that even greater things are ahead.

Elsewhere, she may be outwith the French focus of this blog, but Australia's Courtney Barnett was a joyful performance, with something of the ragged glory of Neil Young and Crazy Horse.

Quite what a predominately French audience made of Kate Tempest's spoken word and rap performance was uncertain, but she had the energy of a mildly unhinged by endearing primary school teacher delivering a lesson the assembly was unlikely to forget.

No shortage of acts that deserve a mention in a round-up of the event. Dad Rocks delivered their thoroughly-crafted pocket symphonies, Cosmo Sheldrake's unique electro folk bringing much human warmth to a genre that too-often revels in being austere.

The aftermath of the Trans Musicales gives you much to think about. After the festival itself, you're left with much to follow up.

There are acts you caught briefly and want to investigate further. Others you might have missed completely, but good reports from friends lead you to check them out.

Other festivals play it safe, with bankable big names on the stage year after year. Not so the Trans Musicales, where a spirit of musical adventure is the key.

If you keep your ears and your mind open, you'll be rewarded at the Trans Musicales.