L'Amour Electronique

Sparrow and Mountains

2012-01-27T15:12:00.003Z

I rather fell for Mesparrow last night, with her Mary Quant hair and her set of loop pedals. Mesparrow (Yes: Piaf/sparrow - They are both small in stature and big in voice, that is where the comparisons end.) was supporting Fránçois & The Atlas Mountains on the first night of Vive La France 2012.

She begins with a basic accapella loop, and sings over the top, taking breaks to add in vocalised orchestrations and harmonies, some twee beat-boxing, sound effects, and on one occasion some gutsy heaving and puking sounds. Each song builds up in this way, before she pares it down, stacks up some more loops and brings her little symphonies to and end. How on earth she can remember what fits where and when and how, heaven knows, there seems to be so so much going on at every moment and each interlocks perfectly into the whole - truly captivating pop!

She took a break to play a smokey torch-song on a huge electric piano, then more multi-part compositions, then closing with a fragile china-doll rendition of 'My Heart Belongs To Daddy' breaking into a bluesy stomp for the choruses, and stuttering the last line over and again like a broken talking automaton.

Then came Fránçois & The Atlas Mountains. The last time I saw him, it was just he alone in the huge Duke of Yorks cinema, creating a cascading wall of echoing drum and acoustic guitar, almost apologetic for his presence on stage. The ("first french signing to the Domino Recording Co") Fránçois of 2012 fronts a taut band of flailing and diving musicians intent on spreading their sweet indie/afro-beat fever and producing a joyful mountain of shimmering lo-fi dance-pop.

I reckon just about EVERY single person left the Green Door Store with a smile on their face and a heap of French joy in their hearts.

Vive La France 2012 begins tomorrow

2012-01-25T13:56:00.001Z

Brighton's annual French music festival Vive La France begins tomorrow.

L'Amour Electronique will be taking part this year DJing on Friday at The Hope alongside Turzi and Concrete Knives, and then bringing the festival to a close on Saturday night at the after-show party at Plateau [full info about both shows here].

French goodness this week on Radio 6

2012-01-25T13:35:00.000Z

A bumper week of French-ness on BBC 6Music this week:

On Monday, Fránçois & The Atlas Mountains' new LP E Volo Love was album of the day. They also played a live session on Marc Riley's show [listen again here].Here is F&TAM's video for their lovely new single on Domino Recording Co.

FRÀNÇOIS & THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS "Les Plus Beaux" by domino

On Tuesday, Radcliffe & Maconie spoke to Air on the telephone about their new album and soundtrack to the Georges Meliès film Le Voyage dans la Lune [listen again here]. You can watch and download the film for free via the Air Facebook page.

And on Thursday, between 1pm and 4pm, Radcliffe & Maconie talk to Charlotte Gainsbourg about her new album Stage Whisper [programme info here].

Vive le Québécois

2012-01-25T12:52:00.000Z

This little batch of beauties arrived a couple of weeks ago all the way from Canada!

5 original compilation LPs of the finest Québécois des années 60s: hommes, femmes and groupes.

I'm still listening my way through them, but was super pleased to have this French version of Johnny Rivers' 'Secret Agent Man' on vinyl at last.

Gilles Brown - Agent Secret

[buy Gilles Brown from amazon.co.uk]

Devo fans will also remember that their robo-jerk cover-version was best preserved on this early film, complete with Booji Boy doing the hand-jive.

Jonathan Meades on France

2012-01-22T17:44:00.001Z

If I was the controller at BBC, I'd just go ahead and give Jonathan Meades his own channel to programme as his whim took him. Alas, I am not the controller of the BBC or any other TV channel, but I can console myself that at least Meades has got a 3-part documentary about France that I can watch on BBC4 over the next couple of weeks.

Part 1 "Fragments of an Arbitrary Encyclopaedia" was on last Wednesday (and is available on the iPlayer until 9:59PM Wed, 8 Feb 2012:

"Jonathan Meades travels through Lorraine and explains why, although close to its eastern border, it has become the symbolic, or even mystical, heart of France and a stronghold of a romantic nationalism that is also expressed by such diverse means as typography, music, engineering, exquisite urbanism and, above all, a sensitivity to Germany's proximity."

[choice references include the Mistral typeface, Le Corbusier, Pascal Haüsermann's bulle dwellings (see below), and I give bonus points for some tasty incidental music including France Gall's 'Le temps de la Rentrée']

Part 2 "A Biased Anthology of Parisian Peripheries" airs on BBC4 this Wednesday at 9pm:

"France granted independence to its colonies in the 1960s. That, anyway, is the official line. In fact, through such agencies as Francophonie which notionally promotes the French language and the secretive Francafrique which wields influence throughout much of Africa, the French state is in reality still a colonial power.Jonathan inspects the Parisian palaces of tyrannical dynasties, the sites of political murders and the village where the Ayatollah Khomeini lived in exile."

There is no info about Part 3 yet, but it follows the week after, same day, same time.

L'Amour à la Chaîne pt.8

2012-01-12T13:26:00.000Z

Last time on la Chaîne we gave you the delectable Gillian Hills performing a swoonsome rendition of a song by The Zombies, and so the logical next step is...

More Zombies...

Two Zombies...

[image source]

Zombie Zombie - the French motorik-electronik duo who were possibly named after a ZX Spectrum game, and, according to their myspace, sound like "a Zombie limbo party". But Zombie Zombie have ceased to exist, no they were not culled - you can't kill a Zombie after all (or can you? Answers in the comments please!) - They just split up last summer. BOO! HISS!

Zombie Zombie - Psychic Harmonia

[buy Zombie Zombie from itunes | amazon.co.uk]

...................................................................
L'Amour à la Chaîne: what will be the next link in the chain? Leave your suggestions and reasons in the comments.
Jacques Dutronc - L'Amour à la Chaîne > Françoise Hardy - Je Changerais D'Avis > Les 5 Gentlemen – Cara-Lin > Add N To (X) – Monster Bobby > Serge Gainsbourg – Le Poinçonneur des Lilas > Les Shades – Orage Mécanique > Gillian Hills - Rentre Sans Moi > Zombie Zombie - Psychic Harmonia > ?

Beau Oui Comme Bowie

2012-01-08T09:03:00.000Z

Today is dame David Bowie's 65th birthday.

Here is a Gainsbourg penned tribute by Isabelle Adjani
(you can enjoy the English lyric translation here)

(for an actress, she's not very good at miming, is she?)

And now, how about some Dave en Français?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,

MISTER THIN WHITE DUKE!

Feeling Christmassy yet?

2011-12-15T18:58:00.000Z

Me neither.

Maybe this will get us in the mood: big production Christmas-ness from Séverine

*Séverine - Les Enfants Qui Attendent Noël*

*I have a feeling I picked this up a couple of years ago from the seasonal Christmas a Go-Go blog*

Vive La France 2012

2011-12-15T16:07:00.000Z

In January our L'Amour Electronique soirée will be a special one-off as part of Vive La France 2012.

We will be providing musical entertainment at the end-of-festival party:
Saturday 28th January 2012
L'Amour Electronique @ Vive La France
11pm - 2am
Free Entry
VENUE: Plateau, 1 Bartholomews, Brighton, BN1 1HG

We will also be playing interlude records between bands at one of the gigs:
Friday 27th January 2012
Turzi + Concrete Knives + Halfway + L'Amour Electronique DJs
VENUE: The Hope, 11 Queens Rd, Brighton, BN1 3WA
doors 8pm
entry £5/£6

download the full programme for Vive La France 2012

[nb there is no L'Amour Electronique in December]

haven't you heard Mirza?

2011-12-09T20:05:00.001Z

At the last L'Amour Electronique I gave this by ace Jocelyne track an airing: A driving beat, some ringing telecaster guitar licks, tenor sax, horns and a pocket of backing vox - it's a soulful little number alright, and not even the dubious muted trumpet solo can take the wind out of its sails.

"et la la la la la"

Jocelyne - La La La La La

[this Jocelyne track was re-issued on the out-of-print Jocelyne: Twistin' The Rock vol 1]

Now listen to Little Stevie Wonder banging the drums in 1963.

Sound familiar?

Fast forward 2 years to 1965 when you might have seen Mirza...

[buy Nino Ferrer from itunes | amazon.co.uk]

But maybe you haven't read Kafka?

Suzanne Gabriello - Z'Avez Pas Lu Kafka

[this track by Suzanne Gabriello was re-issued on the out-of-print Ultra Chicks vol 5: Chicks a Go Go]

A trip to the moon

2011-12-09T19:55:00.000Z

NME.com is previewing a track from Air's forthcoming album Le Voyage Dans Le Lune (released 6th Feb 2012).

From the Air website:

The album takes its inspiration from the classic 1902 silent film “Le Voyage Dans La Lune” (A Trip To The Moon)” by Georges Méliès, which has been fully restored and is currently being shown at film festivals around the world to great acclaim. For this new version of the film, AIR were asked to compose an original score, which in turn grew into a full scale album project.

L'Amour à la Chaîne pt.7

2011-11-14T10:53:00.000Z

Following kitty’s suggestion we give you the lovely Miss Hills and her achingly beautiful rendition of The Zombies’ exquisite baroque-pop lament Leave Me Be.

The link from part 6 > Our Gillian had a small, but racy, part in Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange: when that naughty Droog Alex picks her and her ice-lolly sucking friend up in the local record emporium, inviting them back to his pad to listen to some of his "angel trumpets and devil trombones".

Gillian Hills – Rentre Sans Moi

[buy Gillian Hills from itunes | amazon.co.uk]

...................................................................
L'Amour à la Chaîne: what will be the next link in the chain? Leave your suggestions and reasons in the comments.
Jacques Dutronc - L'Amour à la Chaîne > Françoise Hardy - Je Changerais D'Avis > Les 5 Gentlemen – Cara-Lin > Add N To (X) – Monster Bobby > Serge Gainsbourg – Le Poinçonneur des Lilas > Les Shades – Orage Mécanique > Gillian Hills - Rentre Sans Moi > ?

All I want for Christmas is...

2011-11-04T11:00:00.000Z

The Melody Nelson 40th Anniversary box-set

*DROOLS*

Yep, Finders Keepers have got me salivating again. This limited edition box-set will be available from 21st November for the princely sum of seventy-five pounds and forty-seven pence, and includes:

The original album on CD
A CD of alternative versions of the tracks
The original vinyl album
A vinyl album of bonus sessions from the time of recording
An exclusive 30-minute DVD documentary
A large-format 52-page book in English and French, including lyrics from the album

*DROOLS AGAIN*

I shall be ordering my copy from Finders Keepers as soon as it becomes available, and you should order from them too (they need support having lost the majority of their stock in the PIAS warehouse fire in August)

Here's a little teaser for the documentary.

And we can only hope the Melody Nelson TV show will be included too!

Quietus interview Jean-Claude Vannier

2011-11-03T13:31:00.002Z

Apparently he was once awarded Le Prix de l'Humour Noir (only in France would they have an award for "black humour").

Read the full interview at The Quietus.

Electro Rapide & Blood Red Roses

2011-11-03T13:22:00.000Z

The wonderful Finders Keepers Records has just released 2 new Jean-Claude Vannier albums. Yes two!

The first, Electro Rapide, is a collection of rarities and curios from the Vannier tape vaults, taken from the period before and during his time working with a certain Monsieur Gainsbourg. It's a bizarre and brief (only 25 minutes long) mix of the epic, comic, strange, and sometimes disturbing mind of the composer-arranger.

More info and soundclips

The second, Roses Rouge Sang, is an album of brand new material recorded with the cream of the session musicians who plied their trade on the 60s scene (Vic Flick, Dougie Wright, Herbie Flowers, Pierre-Alain Dahan, Tony Bonfils, Denys Lable, and Mark Chantereau). The fruits of this re-union could almost be a long-lost early-70s album by Gainsbourg himself - all brooding strings and taut, rhythmic funk. Whilst Vannier's vocal-style recalls Serge's earlier hesitant chansonnier style.

More info and soundclips

A version of the following song appears on Electro Rapide. You can find this "mid-tempo version" as a bonus track on Vannier's L'Enfant Assassin Des Mouches (also on Finders Keepers)

Jean-Claude Vannier - Je M'Appelle Geraldine (mid-tempo version)

[buy Electro Rapide and Roses Rouges Sang on CD and mp3 direct from Finders Keepers Records - they need your support having lost most of their physical stock in the PIAS warehouse fire back in August]

Quelle Horreur vol. 2: Sinister Synths and Monstrous Machines

2011-10-28T11:55:00.001+01:00

At last! Quelle Horreur vol. 2. A halloween mixtape for fans of sinister synths, creepy claviolines, demonic drum machines, and eerie electronica.

1. Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind - The Shining (Main Title)
2. Kap Bambino - Batcaves
3. Relaxed Muscle - Beastmaster
4. Future Bible Heroes - I'm a Vampire
5. Ladytron - Miss Black
6. John Carpenter - Halloween Theme (Main Title)
7. Zombie Zombie - Walk Of The Dead
8. Broadcast - Evil Is Coming
9. Les Georges Leningrad - Cocktail Vampire
10. Suicide - Ghostrider
11. Mount Vernon Arts Lab – Hobgoblins
12. Stereo Total – Film D’Horreur
13. Lio - Bébé Vampire
14. I Monster - The Blue Wrath
15. The Moontrekkers - Return of The Vampires

DOWNLOAD HERE [57.1mb zip file]

Quelle Horreur vol. 1

2011-10-28T11:53:00.001+01:00

Last year I mentioned a second Halloween mixtape of electronic/synth music I'd been planning but never had time to finish. I have had time this year, and it will follow shortly.

In the mean time, I thought I'd re-post the original French pop/psych Quelle Horreur mixtape.

1. Stella - Si vous connaissez quelque-chose de pire qu'un vampire, parlez m'en toujours, ça pourra peut-être me faire sourire

2. Serge Gainsbourg - Docteur Jekyll Et Monsieur Hyde

3. Christine Pilzer - Dracula

4. Les Maledictus Sound - Kriminal Theme

5. Evariste - Connais-Tu I'animal Qui Inventa Le Calcul Integral

6. France Gall - Frankenstein

7. Jany L. - Mon Joli Vampire

8. Gérard Manset - Animal on est mal

9. Les Maledictus Sound - Monster Cocktail

10. Nicole Paquin - Mon Mari C'est Frankenstein

11. Brigitte Bardot - Le Diable Est Anglais

DOWNLOAD HERE (40.9mb zip file)

Voila

2011-10-25T14:00:00.002+01:00

Over at Filles Sourires Guuzbourg has just posted a pleasing new take on Françoise Hardy's Voila. Dirty Beaches samples that familiar piano riff and delivers a laid-back velvety croon over the top of it.

Perfect for exorcising any memories of R*bbie W*lliams' god-awful Voila rip-off of a couple of years ago.

And now, as if an excuse was needed, a photo of the lovely Mademoiselle Hardy.

French rarities on the radio TONIGHT

2011-10-21T16:42:00.000+01:00

news reaches us that there is une gâterie érotique in store at midnight on BBC 6music, when Andy Votel (Finders Keepers Records) joins Stuart Maconie on thee Freakier Zone...

Andy Votel And The Music Of French Eroticism

Listen :

NEXT ON:

Tomorrow, 00:00 on BBC 6 Music

Synopsis

A 60 minute compendium of audio gloop, hosted by King of Freaks, Stuart Maconie, plus every week a special guest presenting a skewed example of weird music. This is the boiled-down peculiar little brother to Sunday's Freak Zone.

This week, record collector Andy Votel uncovers the true story behind Melody Nelson, Serge Gainsborg's peculiar concept album and plays tracks from the genre of French eroticism... ooh err!

**UPDATE**
You can now 'listen again' on the iPlayer (available until 11.59pm on Friday 28th October)
[see comments for more info about the programme]

L'Amour Electronique >> this Saturday

2011-10-20T12:30:00.000+01:00

Our next soirée is this Saturday: a late night audio cocktail of 60s French Pop, Gallic freakbeat, popsike, swinging mademoiselles, synth goodness, Franco-funk and electronic delights.

L'Amour Electronique
Saturday 22 October
The West Hill, 67 Buckingham Place, Brighton, BN1 3PQ
9pm - 3am
FREE ENTRY ALL NIGHT

Listen to our latest mixes for all things French, 60s, electronic, synthesized and POP!

oh and come and find us on facebook, go on, do it: facebook event

love and electronics
xxx

L'Amour Electronique mix 2

2011-10-20T12:09:00.000+01:00

At last, the 2nd L'Amour Electronique mix! This one was recorded on 27 November 2010.

Another 2 hour mix of French pop, Gallic freakbeat, 60s garage, popsike, synth-pop, Franco-funk, bubblegum, chanson, ye-ye, synthesized sounds and electronic delights, for your listening pleasure.

For the first installment, we give you europop from Sebastien Tellier, call-and-response courtesy of Antoine and Jacques Dutronc, I Monster's sinister synth epic, a rare cut from France Gall, a Serge Gainsbourg soundtrack dalliance, Polnareff Computer funk, and more, and more, and more...

[for some reason the embedded player doesn't work with the Safari browser. It definitely works with Firefox though, or you can listen to it at the Mixcloud page]

L'Amour Electronique mix 2 (pt.1) by Lamourelectronique on Mixcloud

track listing for part 1
Boy From Brazil – Le Claqueur De Doigts

Joanna – Hold-up Inusité

Serge Gainsbourg et Jean-Claude Brialy - C’est LaCristallisation Comme Dit Stendhal

Stereo Total – Comme Un Garçon

Antoine – Les Élucubrations d’Antoine

Jacques Dutronc – Et Moi, Et Moi, Et Moi

John & Jehn – 20L07

I Monster – Who Is She?

Les Charlots – St. Rock

Michel Polnareff – Computer’s Dream

France Gall – Zoï Zoï

Brigitte Bardot – Le Diable Est Anglais

Liz Brady – Bas Les Pattes

Sylvie Vartan – Koibito Jidai

Chantal Goya – Une Écharpe, Une Rose

Charlotte Gainsbourg – AF607105

Sebastien Tellier – Divine

Vive La Fête – Maladie d’un Fon

Stereo Total – Alaska

L'Amour Electronique mix 2 (pt.2) by Lamourelectronique on Mixcloud

Hour 2 begins with a slow-burning Dutronc freakbeat classic. The mix takes a pure pop line until the urgent electro-meltdown of Dauerfisch and some oddball latterday Polnareff. Back to early 80s synth-pop (Human League, Telex), then off on a widescreen trip with Jean-Claude Vannier; next, some sweet ye-ye from mademoiselles Hardy, Hills and Goya, before Eddy Mitchell reprises the Anna soundtrack from part 1. It ends with an accordion duel between Jacques Brel and Adèle. Adèle wins with a bullet.

track listing for part 2

Jacques Dutronc – Je Suis Content

Pete Shelley – Qu’est-ce Que C’est Que Ça

Serge Gainsbourg – Marilu

Baby Birkin – Orangutan

Mareva Galanter avec Jacno – Bang Bang

Françoise Hardy – Comment Te Dire Adieu

Brigitte Bardot – Tu Veux Ou Tu Veux Pas

Dauerfisch – Peter Thomas Kann Nicht Zählen

Michel Polnareff – Y’a Que Pas Pouvoir Qu’on Peut

Human League – (Keep Feeling) Fascination

Telex – Moskow Diskow

Large Number – The Number People

Jean-Claude Vannier – Je M’apelle Geraldine (up-tempoversion)

The Blackbirds – Promenade dans le Forêt du Brabant

Françoise Hardy – Apprends Le Moi

Gillian Hills – Oublie

Chantal Goya – Laisse Moi

Eddy Mitchell – Baseball

Serge Gainsbourg – En Melody

David Bowie – Weeping Wall

Jacques Brel – Amsterdam

Adèle – Je Ne Veux Plus D’Accordéon

Good news from Born Bad

2011-10-16T16:09:00.003+01:00

I was rather pleased to have finally picked up a vinyl copy of Wizzz! vol.1 on eBay a few weeks ago, and for a bargain price too!

Then I happened to take a look at the Born Bad Records website and realised they've actually re-pressed it. So it's good news for everyone!

[Vinyl copies had been going for silly money on eBay and sites like discogs.com for a while. This seems to be an increasing trend with compilations of rare 60s cuts: The compilation brings the tracks to the attention of the big wide world, which makes the original discs more sought after and the prices rocket. The originals become harder and harder to find, then the compilation goes out of print, and so the price of that goes up and up and up as well - crazy what people will do to get hold of a particular song on vinyl. Don't look at me though, I know my limits.]

For me Wizzz!: Psychorama Français 66-71 (to give it its full title) is the better of the 2 Wizzz! comps - it's a lot more poppy and immediate and it brings together a handful of legendary tracks I'd only ever read about and imagined how they might sound, plus a couple of well-comped classics.

A long-time favourite is this little sitar-psyche sex-funk number

Danyel Gérard - Sexologie

[buy Wizzz!: Psychorama Français 66-71 Born Bad Recs]

Gimme some Sylvie

2011-10-12T15:30:00.000+01:00

Ha! In your face eBay sniper software! That bid in the last 2 seconds just wasn't enough to beat my highest bid. I win. You lose. I am happy.

But what did I win? Currently winging its way to me is this piece of vintage vinyl.

Track 2 is Sylvie's breathtaking version of The Spencer Davis Group's mod-scorcher Gimme Some Lovin'.

Now gimme some Sylvie!

Sylvie Vartan - Donne Moi Ton Amour

[buy Sylvie Vartan from itunes]

Bon Anniversaire x2

2011-10-09T19:48:00.001+01:00

Bon Anniversaire France Gall!

Here's a bouncy little number you made back in 1968.
France Gall - Dady Da Da

[buy France Gall from itunes | amazon.uk]

And Happy Birthday monsieur John Lennon, wherever you may be.

A ripping raw Québécois cover of a fitting song from yr Beatles songbook pour vous:
Les Sound Track - Ce Soir C'est Ma Fête

[buy Les Sound Track from discogs.com | amazon.uk]

And a tribute from Leonie* too
Leonie - John Lennon

[buy Leonie from itunes | amazon.uk]

(*thanks to Mordi @ Blow-Up Doll for the introduction...)

L'Amour à la Chaîne pt.6

2011-10-07T17:31:00.001+01:00

Remember last time, we took you to the Paris Métro? Today you find us on the Glasgow underground, known locally as the ‘Clockwork Orange’ on account of the 70s brown and orange colour-scheme and the fact it runs like a little clockwork train on a loop around the city centre.

Here it comes now...

...mind your head as you step inside the diminutive carriage.

You know in France they would call it “L’Orange Mécanique”. I’ve heard it’s due a refurbishment, but the locals are too fond of the kitschy decor: peeling paint, cracked tiles, letters missing from signs - like that one over there.

ORA GE MÉCANIQUE

We know a song about that. It's by Parisian indie fire-brands du jour Les Shades.

Les Shades - Orage Mécanique

[buy Les Shades from Tricatel | itunes.
also, watch their tasty hi-contrast video]

...................................................................
L'Amour à la Chaîne: what will be the next link in the chain? Leave your suggestions and reasons in the comments.
Jacques Dutronc - L'Amour à la Chaîne > Françoise Hardy - Je Changerais D'Avis > Les 5 Gentlemen – Cara-Lin > Add N To (X) – Monster Bobby > Serge Gainsbourg – Le Poinçonneur des Lilas > Les Shades – Orage Mécanique > ?

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

2011-10-07T07:00:00.000+01:00

BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP
BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP
BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP
BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP
BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP

Il est sept heures du matin, this is your early morning wake up call.

[image source]

WAKE UP!

Jacqueline Taïeb - 7 Heures Du Matin

Do you need that in plain English?
Jacqueline Taïeb - 7 AM

[buy Jacqueline Taïeb from itunes | amazon.uk]

...and with those vital 2-or-so-minutes of Gallic freakbeat the L'Amour Electronique blog was roused back into the land of the living.

c'est Lulu

2011-10-06T19:59:00.001+01:00

Thanks to Guuzbourg at Filles Sourires for posting this on facebook

This Saturday => French Moog madness and more!

2011-09-23T10:59:00.000+01:00

You are welcome to join us this Saturday for another evening of Synthesized sounds, French Pop and Electronic Delights.

L'AMOUR ELECTRONIQUE
Saturday 24th September
9pm-3am
The West Hill pub, 67 Buckingham Place, Brighton, BN1 3PQ
FREE ENTRY ALL NIGHT

We play French garage, Moog madness*, 80s synth pop, 60s ye-ye, la musique psychedelique, swinging mademoiselles, robot rock, electronic pioneers, arpeggio disko and more!

* I just picked up this early Moog album in Manchester, and I ain't afraid to use it

love and electronics
xxx

Ce Soir c'est L'Amour Electronique

2011-08-27T10:43:00.000+01:00

Yep, time marches on and another L'Amour Electronique has snuck up on us...

These are the informations you need to know

Saturday 27th August
9pm-3am
The West Hill pub, 67 Buckingham Place, Brighton, BN1 3PQ
FREE ENTRY ALL NIGHT

We play French garage, 80s synth pop, 60s ye-ye, la musique psychedelique, swinging mademoiselles, robot rock, electronic pioneers, arpeggio disko and more

see the posts below for mixtapes and previous setlists

love and electronics
xxx

Here is some accompanying eye candy I found at http://frenchnewwave.tumblr.com

Les Oops

2011-07-20T18:31:00.000+01:00

Oh my! I've been neglecting my blogs again... I blame art, love, life, holidays and work (in that order). Still at least I gave you 2 hours of musique fantastique to keep you going during this barren period (see post below).

There will be more activity soon.

In the meantime I should make you aware that this month's L'Amour Electronique is on the 5th Saturday of the month.

Saturday 30th July
9pm-3am
The West Hill pub, Brighton
FREE ENTRY ALL NIGHT

Verity and I will be away, but Sarah and guest DJs will entertain with a late night audio cocktail of Synthesized sounds, French Pop and Electronic Delights.

Ce Soir - L'AMOUR ELECTRONIQUE (Sat 25 June)

2011-06-25T13:56:00.000+01:00

Come join us tonight for another L'Amour Electronique soirée!

We will be playing the finest in French Femmes et Garçons, 60s yé-yé, Gallic freakbeat, popsike, bubbblegum, psyché-rock, synthesized sounds and electronic frippery. ENTRY IS FREE. C'est bon!

Listen to our new mixes [posted below] for a taster of what we play

L'AMOUR ELECTRONIQUE
Saturday 25 June
9pm-3am
at The West Hill pub, 67 Buckingham Place, Brighton, BN1 3PQ

love and electronics
xxx

L'Amour Electronique mix 1 (23 October 2010)

2011-06-17T13:39:00.001+01:00

This is the first of a series of special mixes* recorded live at our L'Amour Electronique soirées.

Mix 1 was recorded on Saturday 23 October 2010:
A 2-hour audio cocktail of French pop, Gallic freakbeat, 60s garage, popsike, bubblegum, psychedelia, chanson, ye-ye, synthesized sounds and electronic delights. This first mix takes in exotic and out-there sounds from the likes of Brigitte Bardot, Polnareff, Stereolab, Gainsbourg, Air, Dutronc, The Normal, Baby Birkin, Stereo Total, Pierre Henry, Christie Laume and Jean-Jacques Perrey.

Hope you all enjoy it, please leave comments here or on Mixcloud.

L'Amour Electronique mix 1 (pt.1) by Lamourelectronique on Mixcloud

TRACKLISTING FOR PART 1
Brigitte Bardot – Contact
Michel Polnareff – l’Oiseau de Nuit
Biky – Reponses
Joe Gracy & Michel Paje - Valérie Se Rebelle
Stereolab – Sun Demon
Jacques Dutronc – Il Est Cinq Heures Paris S'Eveille
Jean-Jacques Perrey – Mister James Bond
France Gall – Sacré Charlemagne
Stone – Auguste le Chat
Fabienne Delsol – Pas Adieu
Mareva Galanter – Pourquoi pas moi
Dalida – Petit Elephant Twist
Françoise Hardy – Pourtant tu M’aimes
Marie Laforêt - Mais si loin de moi
Serge Gainsbourg et Charlotte Gainsbourg - Lemon Incest
Air – Talisman
Stereo Total – Barbe à Papa
Christie Laume – Rouge Rouge
Jacques Dutronc – Sur Une Nappe De Restaurant
Chantal Goya – D’abord dis-moi ton nom

L'Amour Electronique mix 1 (pt.2) by Lamourelectronique on Mixcloud

TRACKLISTING FOR PART 2
Sylvie Vartan – De Bonheur
Baby Birkin – Black…White
The Rogers Sisters – Les Fantasies sont Bien
We Are Enfant Terrible – Snap Dragon
Jenny Rock – Mal
Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM
Daniel Gérard – Sexologie
Pierre Henry & Michel Legrand – Teen Tonic
Stereolab – Percolator
The Normal – Warm Leatherette
C++ - Dé-Rock ‘n’ Rollisation
M – Pop Musik
Jane Birkin - Raccrochez c'est une Horreur
Depeche Mode – The Meaning of Love
France Gall - Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son
Michel Polnareff – Tout Tout pour ma Chérie
Orlane Paquin – Le Train de 10h03
Francis Lai – Un Homme et Une Femme (instrumental version)
Chantal Goya – Dans la Nuit
Soft Cell – Say Hello, Wave Goodbye

Stay tuned for another mix in the coming weeks...

* These mixes were originally produced for a radio station, but never made it to air after the person who commissioned them moved elsewhere. Hopefully you'll agree that their loss is your gain...

mixtape for Blow-Up Doll

2011-06-01T09:31:00.054+01:00

I was very flattered to be asked by Mordi at Blow-up Doll to submit something for his mixtape exchange. The criteria: 10-12 songs, anything goes as long as they have a female lead vocal and will appeal to other Blow-up Doll readers.

After a whole lot of deliberating and whittling down here's what I came up with**:

LOVE IS AMOUR IN FRENCH
01 - Tuesday Weld - Are You The Boy?
02 - Karo - Sur Ta Moto (7" [TC Vedettes VD 3071])
03 - Tienou - Tu N'Peux Pas T'Empêcher de Rire (7" [POLYDOR 66 331 Simple])
04 - April March - Magic Ass (Dans les yeux d'April March 10" [Club Tricatel TRIEP25 001/1999])
05 - Jenny Rock - Mal
06 - Brezel Göring (feat. Christiane F.) - Ich Bin So Süchtig (white label 7")
07 - Anika - Terry
08 - Elephant's Memory - Old Man Willow
09 - Rose Elinor Dougall - Start/Stop/Synchro
10 - Anne Marie - Love is Amour in French
11 - Cat's Eyes - Not A Friend

You can download the full mixtape and tons of other ace mixes from blow-up-doll.blogspot.com

**As well as some French femme faves, I chose a few, more cinematic, numbers that I play when I DJ at our other night Tonight We Fly. There are also a couple of current faves that I just had to include. The best thing is it gave me a good kick up the backside to actually rip some stuff from vinyl, so there are a few rare songs, which, as far as I know, have never been issued/re-issued.

COMING SOON! L'Amour Electronique DJ mixes

2011-05-31T09:53:00.000+01:00

In the next couple of weeks I will post the first of a bunch of 2-hour DJ sets recorded live from our monthly L'Amour Electronique soirées. The first mix features songs from the likes of Brigitte Bardot, Stereolab, Christie Laume, Charlottte Gainsbourg, Pierre Henry & Michel Legrand, C++, and Francis Lai.

Check back in the next 2 weeks, or click the 'follow this blog' link in the sidebar to stay in the loop.

Sébastien Tellier 'French Classics' mix

2011-05-29T13:50:00.000+01:00

I'm currently enjoying the Sébastien Tellier 'French Classics' mix. 51 minutes of kitsch, jazzy, psychedelic French chanson, easy listening, pre- and post-yé-yé, and dreamy synthtronica.

The blurb from Mixcloud:

Ever since back in the '50s, France has been a fertile ground for genuinely out-there (and oftentimes well-dressed) pop music that came forward from the margins and ended up moving the rebels and the bourgeoisie alike. This mix - conceived and tracklisted by Record Makers' very own universal genius Sébastien Tellier for RBMA Radio's monthly 'Crème Brûlée' show - pays tribute to this heritage, with timeless cuts from some of the country's all-time greats

Sébastien Tellier - French Classics Mix by Red Bull Music Academy Radio on Mixcloud

As an aside: Verity and I once DJ'ed as support to Monsieur Tellier when he played in Brighton. Judging from his selections, I'd like to think he enjoyed what we played - especially Serge's 8-minute proto-disco s&m sleaze-fest Love On The Beat, and our closer: Polnareff's melancholy epic Qui a Tue Grand-Maman.

the great Blow-Up Doll mixtape exchange

2011-05-27T18:40:00.000+01:00

Mordi at the brilliant and scarily prolific Blow-Up Doll blog is in the midst of a grand mixtape exchange.

Doll readers and fellow bloggers have submitted mixtapes of pure girl-goodness and femme-fantastic-ness, and Mordi is gradually posting them - so far we've been treated to girls from all over the place including some ace picks from Portugal, Holland and the Eastern Bloc.

Mine is scheduled to appear on 1st June, so keep 'em peeled.

L'Amour Electronique => Samedi Soir + Setlist from 23 April 2011

2011-05-27T13:23:00.002+01:00

Our next L'Amour Electronique soirée is this weekend:
SATURDAY 28 MAY
9pm - 3am
The West Hill, 67 Buckingham Place, Brighton, BN1 3PQ

ENTRY IS FREE/GRATIS/£0
Join us for another evening of French pop, yé-yé, electronic delights, synthcore, Gallic freakbeat, synth-sounds, bubblegum and popsike.

And now, for those who like lists, here is what we played on 23 April 2011

Dominic
Jacques Brel – Amsterdam
Telefilme – Pop-Corn Videodrome
Françoise Hardy – Il Est Trop Loin
Brigitte – Battez-Vous
Michel Legrand – Digue Ding Ding
Pussycat – Hymne Au Soleil
Marie Laforêt – A Demain My Darling
Messieurs Richard de Bordeaux et Daniel Beretta – La Drogue
Serge Gainsbourg et Jane Birkin – 69 Année Erotique
Sarah
Chantal Goya – A La Sortie De Ma Classe
Cléo – Madame La Terre (Et Ron, Et Ron …)
Black Box Recorder – Andrew Ridgeley
Ladytron – Commodore Rock
Bis – Action + Drama
Stereo Total – Plus Minus Null
Add N To (X) – Steve's Going To Teach Himself Who's Boss
Human League – Being Boiled (fast version)
A Trois Dans Les WC – Contagion
Verity
Pulp – Ladies Man
Goldfrapp – Train
Petula Clark – L’Amour Avec Un Grand A
Dump – Et Moi, Et Moi, Et Moi
Serge Gainsbourg – L’eau à La Bouche
Anne Marie Peysson – Comme Un Manège
Dubstar – St. Swithin’s Day
The Delgadoes – Sacré Charlemagne
Françoise Hardy – Quel Mal y a-t-il À Ça?
Dominic
France Gall – Christiansen
Les Gam’s – Il à Le Truc
Les Rolling Bidochons – Plaintes En Vrac
Comix – Touche Pas Mon Sexe
Die Dorau & Die Marinas – Fred Vom Jupiter
Cats In Paris – Loose Tooth Tactile
Fabienne Delsol – C’est Jour La
Eric Charden – Amour Limite Zéro
Pierre Henry et Michel Legrand – Psyché Rock
Christophe – La petite fille du 3ème
Katty-Line – Un Petit Peu D’amour
Sarah
Jacqueline Perez – Go Home
Ria Bartok – J'y Pense Tout Bas
Maryene – Cette Fille N’est Rien Par Lui
Lizzy Mercier Descloux – Torso Corso
C.K.C. - 20h25
Air – Lucky and Unhappy
Sukia – The Dream Machine
Quintron & Miss Pussycat – Dream Captain
Verity
Neon Neon – Raquel
Stereolab – Les Yper-Sound
Silver Apples – Oscillations
Christophe – Les Marionettes
France Gall – N’ecoutes Pas Les Idoles
Hair ST – Laissez enter Le Soliel
Sebastien Tellier – L’amour est La Violence (Boys Noize remix)
Michel Polnareff – Qui à Tué Grand-Maman?
OMD – Red Frame/White Light
Dominic
Stereo Total – Barbe à Papa
Claude Dubois – La Tourne
Joe Gracy et Michel Paje - Valérie Se Rebelle
Marie Laforêt (avec Gérard Klein) – Le Vin De L’été
Michel Polnareff – Time Will Tell
Vetty – Nicolas
Isabelle – Amstramgram
Humbert Humbert – Self-Misunderstood
Berthe – Les Emberthements
Minouche Barelli – Boum Bada Boum
France Gall – Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son
Léonie – Lilith
Sarah
Stella - Pourquoi Pas Moi
Sophie Makhno et Colin Verdier – Obsessions 68
Michel Arnaud et Serge Gainsbourg – Les Papillons Noirs
Stereo Total – I Wanna Be A Mama
Future Bible Heroes – Don’t You Want Me?
Bis – Kill Yr Boyfriend
Smarty Pants – Knee Sox Girl
Trouble Vs Glue – No More No More
Françoise Cactus – You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory
Verity
Add N To (X) – King Wasp
Jane Birkin – Jane B
Pet Shop Boys – Rent
Marie Laforêt – Mais Si Loins De Moi
Kraftwerk – Ohm Sweet Ohm
Yazoo – Only You
Serge et Charlotte Gainsbourg – Lemon Incest
Human League – Love Action
Dominic
Brigitte Bardot – St Tropez
Evy – Une Question Qui se Pose
Elizabeth – Je Suis Sublime
Jacques Dutronc – Sur Une Nappe De Restaurant
Danyel Gérard – Sexologie
Brezel Göring - Ich Bin So Süchtig (feat. Christiane F)
Trio Sourire – Satisfaction
Chevette – We Can Dance Again
Adèle – C’est Bon
Sarah
Liz Brady – Bas Les Pattes
Sylvie Vartan – Irréstiblement
Chantal Goya – Dans La Nuit
The Chap – They Have A Name
Pulp – Separations
Giorgio Moroder – From Here To Eternity
Verity
Jean-Michel Jarre – Equinoxe pt.5
Stereo Total – Villaines Filles, Mauvais Garçons
Violaine – Dam’Dou Ah!
Serge Gainsbourg – Qui Est ‘In’, Qui Est ‘Out’?
Depeche Mode – Everything Counts
Simon Bookish – Terry Riley Disco
Dauerfisch – Peter Thomas Kann Nicht Zählen
Future Bible Heroes – Love Is Blue

L'Amour à la Chaîne pt.5

2011-05-26T18:12:00.002+01:00

Whenever I’m on the Paris Métro the doors-closing horn always reminds me of that opening klaxon-salvo on Monster Bobby (see pt.4).

Deep in the belly of the Porte des Lilas Métro station, the ticket-puncher sits, going slowly crazy in the half-light. Day after day after day, over and over, again and again and again: punching "Little holes, little holes, always little holes…"

He dreams of getting away. He's seen exotic places in the Reader's Digest, places he can only dream of reaching on his pitiful wage - if the Métro doesn't go there, neither will he. He eyes a first-class suit with jealousy as he punches another first-class hole: summer holidays are coming, and I'll be stuck here with this ever growing mountain of little holes gathering at my feet.

And at night: he dreams of nothing but the little punched holes that he leaves in Hansel & Gretel-style trails all the way back to his flea-pit of a home. He wakes in a cold sweat in the dead of night, the little holes falling like confetti from the ceiling, littering the squalid bed-clothes, and peppering the floor as he staggers to the bureau and feels for the cold, hard steel of his papa's army-issue rifle.

"Little holes, little holes, always little holes…"

He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and makes one last little hole

And then some poor sod has to dig another, bigger hole to put him in.

There is now a "garden" at Porte des Lilas, dedicated to Serge and his song. Not much bigger than a metro ticket and overlooking the Boulevard Périphérique, it's hardly an oasis of tranquility for your average stir-crazy ticket-puncher. Perhaps they've planted some ornamental cabbages...

If you do go to Paris, visit Serge's house, or go and leave a metro ticket on his grave at the Cimetière de Montparnasse.

Serge Gainsbourg – Le Poinçonneur des Lilas

[buy Serge Gainsbourg from iTunes | Amazon.uk]

...................................................................
L'Amour à la Chaîne: what will be the next link in the chain? Leave your suggestions and reasons in the comments.
Jacques Dutronc - L'Amour à la Chaîne > Françoise Hardy - Je Changerais D'Avis > Les 5 Gentlemen – Cara-Lin > Add N To (X) – Monster Bobby > Serge Gainsbourg – Le Poinçonneur des Lilas > ?

L'Amour à la Chaîne pt.4

2011-05-22T18:58:00.003+01:00

Hmm, seem to have gone a bit off the boil with these. Hopefully this will kick start la Chaîne again [see pt.3 for the story so far]...

In response to the terrace-style stomp of Cara-Lin we awaken the terrace-style chanting of this little terror.

"YOU'RE NOT SINGING, YOU'RE NOT SINGING, YOU'RE NOT SINGING ANYMORE..."

I reckon by the time Bobby and his thugs are through with us we'll all be going home in a fucking ambulance.

Monster Bobby first reared his ugly head on Add Insult To Injury, the 4th album from, now imploded, analogue synth fetishists/abusers Add N To (X).

But who are Add N To (X)?

Add N To (X) formed in 1994, with a motley arsenal of vintage synths and a perverted mind-set at their disposal. They delighted, confused and titillated with their Avant-Hard brand of proto-electronic sci-fi robot-sex rock. They also made some saucy videos, which you can view at your risk: here and here. Then they fell apart in 2003, and an ugly synthesizer custody battle ensued.

There used to be a cool (Channel 4?) documentary about them, but it got removed from bloody youtube

Add N To (X) – Monster Bobby

[buy Add N To (X) from Mute Records | Amazon.uk]

...................................................................
L'Amour à la Chaîne: what will be the next link in the chain? Leave your suggestions and reasons in the comments.
Jacques Dutronc - L'Amour à la Chaîne > Françoise Hardy - Je Changerais D'Avis > Les 5 Gentlemen – Cara-Lin > Add N To (X) – Monster Bobby > ?

ye-ye! no-no?

2011-05-22T18:11:00.002+01:00

I can't believe it's a year since Verity and I went to Japan***...

[the Tokyo Tower, built in 1958 and "inspired" by the Eiffel Tower, only 8.5 metres taller and painted white and orange]

I was whittling songs down last week for a mixtape for Blow-up Doll, and this is one that ended up on the cutting room floor. It triggered a memory of when I first heard it in a cramped record shop in Kyoto: as we flicked through the vinyl and chuckled at the section (mis?)labelled 'Gram Lock', this kitsch bit of 60s Jap-pop came on with an ear-catching chorus of "Yé-Yé! Yé-Yé!". The shop owner was playing an Ace Records compilation called 'Nippon Girls - Japanese Pop, Beat & Bossa Nova 1966-70'. I would have bought it there and then, but seeing as it was an import it was ridiculously expensive. So I tracked it down when I got home.

It's not actually even in French but since most of the lyrics are just "Yé-Yé", I thought I'd just let it slip by.

Confusingly the pronunciation of "Yé-Yé" is very close (to my ears) to the Japanese for "No": "Iie". So is it positive homage to the 60s Euro-pop fad or a playfully negative riposte?

"Yé-Yé" or "No-No"? I dunno, but it's a shifty little number!

~~Eiko Shuri - Yé-Yé~~
[buy the Nippon Girls comp from Amazon.uk or via Ace Records]

***I also can't believe the terrible events that hit the beautiful people and landscape on the 11th of March this year. The country is still recovering from the huge earthquake and tsunami and the fall-out and devastation it left behind. You can make a donation to the Red Cross relief effort via the Japan Tsunami Appeal.

Falling for Françoise

2011-05-20T19:26:00.000+01:00

This Saturday 21st May, 10.30am on Radio 4, Falling for Françoise
[it will then be available for 7 days on the iPlayer]

Synopsis:

It was on a language-learning trip to Paris that John Andrew first heard the music of Francoise Hardy and fell for the sexy but shy singer. He was not alone - she was the dreamgirl of many an English schoolboy in the early 1960s.

In 'Falling for Francoise', he revisits Paris and the streets in which he first lost his heart and he talks to others who've suffered the same fate - the Hardy fan website curator, Yorkshireman Warren Gilbert; musician Ben Christophers, who's written songs for the mature Francoise; journalist Laura Barton, who's besotted with the whole French 60s 'ye ye' scene... and in a real coup, John gets to meet the singer herself, falling for Francoise all over again!

Introduction by John Andrew from the BBC Radio 4 blog

"Picture the scene. A girl walks down the street, alone and unloved, while around her loving couples hold hands and gaze into each other's eyes. That was the theme of 'Tous Les Garcons et les Filles de Mon Age', a self-penned melancholic song which in the early 1960s catapulted Françoise Hardy to Europe-wide fame, and achieved something rare: being one of the few French language songs to make the British charts. Globally it sold around two million copies-shifting more records than the legendary Edith Piaf did in eighteen years.

In Britain, Françoise had no shortage of schoolboy admirers. And I was one of them.

She suddenly made learning O and A Level French that much cooler. Hardy stood out from other girl singers of the time on both sides of the Channel. There was no fancy hair style or heavy duty cosmetics. Her hair was long and straight, her make-up minimal. She had a natural, wholesome look that made her the perfect 'girl next door.'

One of the fans I talk to in Falling for Françoise tells the story of a French girl who came to England to stay with a penfriend and turned out to be a dead ringer for Françoise. All his schoolmates made a beeline for her but he got there first. It was the start of a 10-day whirlwind romance that took in such delights as the Droitwich Lido.

But it wasn't just school boys who fancied Françoise. Just about every male rock star was effusive about her too. Mick Jagger called her his 'ideal woman' and David Bowie said that 'for a long time I was passionately in love with her. Every in male the world and a number of females also were.'

One of her most remarkable encounters was with Bob Dylan during his 1966 concert at the Paris Olympia. Dylan, she recalls, was 'in bad shape' and not singing well. In the interval he sent her a message to say he wouldn't complete the concert until she'd come to meet met him in his dressing room. It was an awkward encounter but later that day he gave a her a a private preview of two new songs later to become classics: 'I Want You' and 'Just Like a Woman'.

In a frank and often self-effacing interview, Françoise plays down the adoration and tells me she's always been uncomfortable with fame.

She says that like many of her early fans, she was a shy and anxious child and jokingly suggests it might be to do with the circumstances of her birth. She was born in Paris during an air raid warning in January 1944 when the city was still under Nazi occupation.

Home life was hard. Her father was largely absent. Her mother had to work hard to keep Françoise and her younger sister well fed and clothed On one of her father's rare appearances he gave her a guitar. Soon she was writing her own songs, as many as one a day. Eventually she successfully auditioned for the Vogue label. It was the start of a string of hits which included 'All Over The World' - a regular choice on The BBC Light Programme's Two-Way Family Favourites.

Though now approaching her seventies she looks as stunning as ever, though the long brown hair has given way to a grey, cropped cut.

More than fifty years since her first hit Françoise is still making albums. She's worked with a string of British musicians including Damon Albarn, the late Malcolm McLaren and the young singer/songwriter Ben Christophers.

EMI have signed her up for two more albums but with typical self-doubt she worries whether she can write enough new material to fill them.

This most reluctant of French icons though is sure of one thing. She says she's rarely happier than when curled up in bed with a book by her favourite author, Henry James."

setlist from 26 March 2011

2011-05-07T19:54:00.000+01:00

On 26 March 2011 we played this mix of French Pop, Synthesized Sounds and Electronic Delights at L'Amour Electronique.

Verity

Mareva Galanter – Pourquoi Pas Moi

Souvenirs – Harley Davidson

France Gall – Nous Ne Sommes Pas des Anges

Kraftwerk – Computer Love

OMD – Messages

Nino Ferrer – Le Téléfon

Sébastian Tellier – Fingers of Steel

Michel Polnareff – La Michetonneuse

Dominic

Les Papyvores – Psychedelic Badge

Jean et Janet – Je T’aime Normal

Marie Laforêt - Marie Douçeur, Marie Colère

Louise Cordet – L’amour Tourne en Rond

Stereolab – Space Moth

Tom Dissevelt & Kid Baltan - Electronic Movements: Syncopation

Cléo – Les Fauves

Karo – Sur Ta Moto

Jenny Rock – Douliou Douliou St Tropez

Michele et ses Wouaps – Dam Dam

Larry Greco – Jette-La!

Françoise Hardy – Je N’Attends Plus Personne

Sarah

Jacqueline Perez – Go Home

Christine Pilzer – Dracula

Alice Dona – Les Trois Couleurs De L’Amour

Tokow Boys – Elle Hôtesse

Denim – Supermodels

Japan – Life in Tokyo

Human League – Circus Of Death (fast version)

TGV – Partie 1

Quintron & Miss Pussycat – Dream Captain

Verity

Brigitte Bardot – Je Danse Donc Je Suis

C++ - Comme Dans Les Films

Hot Butter – Popcorn

Andre Popp – Love is Blue

Françoise Hardy – Non, Ce N’est Pas Un Rêve

Serge Gainsbourg - La Chanson De Prévert

Eurhythmics – Here Comes the Rain Again

Etienne Daho – Bleu Comme Toi

Stereolab – The Free Design

Dominic

Stereo Total – Les Enfants Font Des Enfants

Michel Polnareff – Beatnik

Monique Thubert – Avec Les Oreilles

Chantal Kelly – Notre Prof’ D’Anglais

Les Problèmes – Pop Jerk

Messieurs Richard de Bordeaux et Daniel Beretta – Psychose

Christophe – Macadam

Die Hornissen – Zeittunnel

Trost – Sans Ta Scie

Air – Dead Bodies

Delphine – Le Fermeture Éclair

Sarah

Chantal Goya – Sois Gentil

Françoise Hardy – Tous Les Garçons et Les Filles

Brigitte Bardot – L'Appareil à Sous

Stereo Total – Du Bist Gut Zu Vögeln

Mécanique Rhythmique – Extase

Relaxed Muscle – Muscle Music

Add N To (X) – Brothel Charge

Dandi Wind – Balloon Factory

Motormark – Eat, Drink, Sleep, Think

Bis – I’m a Slut

Devo – S.I.B. (Swelling Itchy Brain)

Fad Gadget – Ricky’s Hand

Verity

Deux – Minimaliste

Jean Michel Jarre – Magnetic Fields (Pt. 2)

Field Mice – Missing the Moon

Desireless – Voyage Voyage

Mareva Galanter – Laisse Tomber Les Filles

Patricia Carli – Le Lion

Jacques Dutronc – A La Queue Les Yvelines

Michel Polnareff – Le Saule Pleurer

Serge Gainsbourg – L’Anamour

Dominic

Human League – Being Boiled

Fever Ray – Stranger Than Kindness

Space – Magic Fly

Virginie Rodin - Commando Spatial

Brezel Göring - Ich Bin So Süchtig (feat. Christiane F)

Sylvie Vartan – Donne Moi Ton Amour

Anna Karina – Rollergirl

Neo Miyako – 100%

Simon Bookish – Metal Horse

Sarah

Knife – I Just Had To Die

Bat For Lashes – Glass

Sophie Makhno - Obsessions 68 (avec Colin Verdier)

Pulp – Do You Remember The First Time

Magnetic Fields – I Thought You Were My Boyfriend

David Bowie – Art Decade

Verity

Stereolab – French Disko

Stereo Total – Larmes De Metal

Serge Gainsbourg – Initials BB

Fat Truckers – Anorexic Robot

Add N to (X) – Adding N to (X)

Dominic

Stereolab – Sadistic

Jacques Dutronc – Sur Une Nappe de Restaurant

Les 5 Gentlemen – Si Tu Reviens Chez Moi

Nino Nardini - Catch That Man

Brigitte Bardot – Contact

Danyel Gérard – Sexologie

Jean Jacques Perrey - Passport To The Future

Die Dorau & Die Marinas - Fred Vom Jupiter

Michel Polnareff – Voyages

Verity

Serge Gainsbourg – Lunatic Asylum

France Gall – Bébé Requin

Françoise Hardy – Comment Te Dire Adieu

Stereo Total – Je Suis Nue

Stereolab – Margerine Melodie

Visage – Fade to Grey

John Foxx – Europe After the Rain

Dominic

Jean-Jacques Dexter – Be Quiet

Sébastian Tellier – Sexual Sportswear

Serge Gainsbourg et Brigitte Bardot – Je T’aime…Moi Non Plus

Jean Jacques Perrey – Pioneers of the Stars

She-Bang! Pow! Crack! Oeuf!

2011-04-18T22:45:00.002+01:00

Je suis l'homme œuf. J'ai pris la belle prisonnière Françoise!

Bring on the roll-over Easter weekend!

Bring on L'Amour Electronique!
Saturday 23 April

9pm - 3am

The West Hill, 67 Buckingham Place, Brighton, BN1 3PQ

Entry = FREE / GRATIS / £0

We will play
French pop and psychedelia, 60s ye-ye, 70s freakouts, synthe-moderne
Synthesized sounds, arpeggiated disko, synthcore, petrochemical rock
Electronic delights, casio pop, Radiophonic Workshop-isms, 8-bit.

[See what we played in February in the post below...]

Now, how about a little more oeuf-age from the labarotary of Jean-Pierre Massiera?

setlist from 26 February 2011

2011-04-18T11:29:00.000+01:00

'Morning.

I've been so very slack with blog posts of late. I blame Berlin, and I blame the sunny weather, and I blame exhibitions, and I blame living.

here is the setlist from L'Amour Electronique on 26 February 2011.
Sarah
Pulp – O.U. (12” mix)
The Chalets – Kiss Chasing
Yacht – We Have All We’ve Ever Wanted
Ladytron – PACO!
Air – Sex Born Poison
Stereo Total – Cannibale
The Knife – Kino
Toni Basil – Space Girls
Brigitte Bardot – Le Diable est Anglais
Adèle – J’ai Peur Parfois
Dominic
Gillian Hills – Ma Premiere Cigarette
Françoise Hardy – Pas Gentille
Serge Gainsbourg – L’Homme à Tête du Chou
Philippe Nicaud – Cuisses Nues, Bottes de Cuir
Liz Brady – Palladium
Léo Petit et Ses Guitares et Ses Rhythmes – Kili-watch
Jean-Claude Vannier – L’Ours Paresseux
Michèle et Ses Wouaps – Dam Dam
Jean-Jacques Perrey – Porcupine Rock
Toss – Da Da Da (Est-ce qu'on s'cherche ou est ce qu'on triche?)
Christophe – Rock Monsieur
Tienou – Tu N’Peux Pas T’Empêcher de Rire
Verity
Future Bible Heroes – Love Is Blue
Jean-Michel Jarre – Equinoxe (pt.4)
Françoise Hardy – Le Premier Bonheur du Jour
France Gall – Attends Ou Va-T’en
Addictive Larsen – Bonnie & Clyde
The Human League – Open Your Heart
Kraftwerk – Airwaves
Michel Polnareff – La Mouche
Mareva Galanter – Les Filles C’est Fait Pour Faire L’Amour
Bébé Suong – Mine De Rien
Sarah
Elisabeth – Madame Superman
Les Roche Martin – Le Mains Dans Le Poche
Serge Gainsbourg – Qui est ‘In’, Qui est ‘Out’?
Sue Wilkinson – You’ve Got To Be a Hustler
Stereo Total – Baby Ouh
Depeche Mode – New Life
Devo – The Day My Baby Gave Me a Surprise
The Associates – Club Country
Add N To (X) – Ann’s Eveready Equestrian
Dominic
Jesus – L’Electrocuté
Christophe – Macadam
The Normal – T.V.O.D.
Mathématiques Moderne – Disco Rough
Bertrand Burgalat & Robert Wyatt – This Summer Night
Johnny Hallyday – Noir C’est Noir
Michel Polnareff – Ta-Ta-Ta-Ta
Jacques Dutronc – Le Responsable
Verity
M – Pop Muzik
Magnetic Fields – If You Don’t Cry
Baby Birkin – Mélo Mélo
Lio – Banana Split
Add N To (X) – Hey Double Double
Stereo Total – Tas De Tôle
Stereolab – Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Deux – Game + Performance
Jean-Michel Jarre – Oxygene (pt.4)
Brigitte Bardot – Contact
Jacques Dutronc – On Nous Cache Tout, On Nous Dit Rien
Françoise Hardy – Je Veux Qu’il Revienne
Sarah
Ici Paris – Miss Tatouée
Serge et Charlotte Gainsbourg – Lemon Incest
Sebastien Tellier – Roche
Glass Candy – Computer Love
Stereo Total – Orange Mécanique
Adult – Glue Your Eyelids Together
Les Georges Leningrad – Supa Doopa
Dominic
Claude François – Eloise
Evy – Un Question Qui Se Pose
Serge Gainsbourg – Monsieur William
Danyel Gérard – Sexologie
Michel Polnareff – Le Roi De Fourmis
Fabiene Delsol – Ce Jour La
Les Différents – Je T’Aime
Messieurs Richard de Bordeaux et Daniel Beretta – Psychose
Stereo Total – Les Enfants Font des Enfants
Verity
Vanessa Paradis – Joe Le Taxi
Serge Gainsbourg – L’Eau à la Bouche
Francis Lai – Un Homme et Une Femme
Stereolab – Ping Pong
Future Bible Heroes – Don’t You Want Me?
Deux – Dance With Me
OMD – Souvenir
Pet Shop Boys – It’s Alright
Sarah
John Foxx – Burning Car
D.A.F. – Kebabträume
Relaxed Muscle – Beast Master
Sleigh Bells – Riot Rhythm
Stazi – Love Is Lethal (Stazi In Your Eyes Fat Truckers remix)
Jacques Dutronc – Et Moi, Et Moi, Et Moi
Chantal Goya – Laisse Moi
Jacqueline Perez – Go Home
Dominic
Arlette Zola – Je Suis Folle de Tant T’Amour
Jacques Brel – Les Filles et Les Chiens
John Baker – The Chase
Echokrank – Abwärts
Charlotte Leslie – Les Filles C’est Fait Pour Faire L’Amour
Isabelle – Amstramgram
Verity
Stereo Total – Ex-Fan des Sixties
Luna – Bonnie & Clyde
Françoise Hardy – Je N’Attends Plus Personne
Sandie Shaw – L’Orage
France Gall – Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son
Godley & Creme – Under Your Thumb
Schneider TM – The Light 3000
Yazoo – Only You
Michel Polnareff – Qui a Tué Grand’Maman?
Mareva Galanter et Jacno – Bang Bang

L'Amour Electronique

2011-03-23T23:07:00.001Z

[Verity @ L'Amour Electronique photographed by Sarah Booker]

Têtes up! Our next soirée is this weekend
Saturday 26 March
9pm - 3am
at The West Hill, 67 Buckingham Place, Brighton, BN1 3PQ

We will be spinning synthesized music, electro pop, French girls in the garage, French boys on acid, soft and hard electronica, arpeggiated disko, yé-yé, sounds from the Radiophonic Workshop, and so much more...

Entry is FREE/GRATIS/£0

Come join le FUN!
..................................................................................................................

Last month we were pick of the week in the Guardian Guide, don't you know

setlist from 22 January 2011

2011-03-23T22:30:00.000Z

Here's the setlist from L'Amour Electronique, 22nd January 2011
Dominic

Japan – Quiet Life

Stereo Total – Relax Baby Be Cool

H.& G. Rapid Learning Systems: FRENCH – General Expressions: Salutations /

Add N To (X) – On The Wires of Our Nerves

Marie Laforêt (avec Gérard Klein) - Le Vin De L’été

Serge Gainsbourg – Ballade De Melody Nelson

Les Bel-Air – Ils Parlaient Dans Mon Dos

Nicoletta – Ça Devait Arriver

Jacqueline Taïeb – Bienvenue Au Pays

Broadcast – Message From Home

Galatasaray Lisesi – Zazie

Sarah

Les Roche Martin – C'est Toi Qui A Gache Notre Vie

Philippe Clay – Dis Ma Femme

Sylvie Vartan – Ballade Pour Une Fugue

Franc Gall – Les Sucettes

Brigitte Bardot – Le Madrague

Grace Jones – La Vie En Rose

Stereo Total – Miss Rébellion Des Hormones

Electronicat – Frisco Bay

Sebastien Tellier – Sexual Sportswear

Verity

Yazoo – Nobody’s Diary

Jacques Dutronc – Ma Poule N’a Plus Que 29 Poulets

Michel Polnareff – Time Will Tell

Nino Ferrer – Les Hommes à Tout Faire

Stereolab – French Disko

Add N To (X) – Revenge of The Black Regent

Les Lolitas – Les Cactus

Françoise Hardy – Pourtant Tu M’aimes

Dominic

Les Princesses – Oh! Dis Moi

Joe Gracy et Michel Paje – Les Danseuses à Go-Go

Les Problèmes – Dodecaphonie

Ronnie Bird – Elle M’attend

Anna Karina – Rollergirl

Dave Rogers – Theme from Cybernoid (ZX Spectrum 128k)

Herman’s Rocket – Space Woman

Leonie – Lilith

Air – Ghost Song

Coralie Clément – Vis à Vis

Deux – Game + Performance

Sarah

Black Box Recorder – Andrew Ridgley

The Doll – Cinderella With a Husky Voice

Sparks – Get In The Swing

Jean-Michel Jarre – Oxygene (pt.4)

Future Bible Heroes – I’m A Vampire

The Associates – Those First Impressions (extended version)

Japan – Life In Tokyo

Verity

Andy Clark/KPM Music – Progress (Synthesis 2 LP)

Lio – Banana Split

Hot Butter – Popcorn

The Human League – The Things That Dreams Are Made Of

Cerrone – Supernature

Serge Gainsbourg – Ford Mustang

France Gall – N’Ecoutez Pas Les Idoles

Divine Comedy – Europop

M – Pop Muzik

Stereo Total – Supergirl

Dominic

Jany L. – Le Restaurant Chinois

Trost – Sans Ta Scie

Phil Lynott & Midge Ure – Yellow Pearl

Add N To (X) – Hit For Cheese

Sparks – Beat The Clock

Virginie Rodin – Commando Spatial

Jerry Goldsmith - Love shop (Logan’s Run OST) /

Les Envahisseurs - 3é Génération

Brigitte Bardot – Harley Davidson

Corynne Charby – Pas Vu Pas Pris

Sarah

Devo – S.I.B. (Swelling Itching Brain)

Giorgio Moroder – From Here To Eternity

Soft Cell – Chips On My Shoulder

Jacques Dutronc – Les Cactus

Les Georges Leningrad – Supa Doopa

Air – Radio No.1

Eurythmics – Love Is A Stranger

Quintron & Miss Pussycat – French-Quarter Faggot/God Of Thunder

Verity

France Gall – Cet Air La

Etienne Daho – Rendez-Vous à Vedra

Men Without Hats – Safety Dance

Françoise Hardy – Je Veux Qu’il Revienne

Jacques Dutronc – On Nous Cache Tout, On Nous Dit Rien

Nino Ferrer – Le Téléfon

Depeche Mode – Everything Counts

Ladytron – Black Plastic

Stereolab – Emperor Tomato Ketchup

Dominic

Françoise Cactus – You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory

Pierre Henry et Michel Legrand – Psyché Rock

Danyel Gérard – Sexologie

Katty Line – Un Petit Peu D’Amour

Jenny Rock – Mal

Brezel Göring (feat. Christiane. F) – Ich Bin So Süchtig

Ronnie Bird – Chante

Sarah

OMD – Enola Gay

Serge Gainsbourg et Brigitte Bardot – Bonnie & Clyde

Sue Wilkinson – You’ve Got To Be A Hustler

Dandi Wind – Balloon Factory

Luke Haines – Off My Rocker at the Art School Bop

Bis – Action + Drama

The Human League – Rock ‘n’ Roll

Verity

Brigitte Bardot – Ça Pourrait Changer

Stereolab – Miss Modular

Sandie Shaw – Pourvu Que Ça Dure

Future Bible Heroes – Don’t You Want Me?

Jacques Dutronc – Le Responsable

Serge Gainsbourg – Shu Ba Du Ba Lu Ba

Dominique Walter – Les Petits Boudins

Dominic

Tienou – Tu N'Peux Pas T'Empecher De Rire

Fabienne Delsol – Ce Jour La

Jocy – Les Dix Premieres

Sarah

Ria Bartok – J’y Pense Tout Bas

Marc Almond – The House is Haunted

Orlane Paquin – Le Train de 10h03

Verity

Baby Birkin – Mélo Mélo

OMD – Electricity

Depeche Mode – New Life

Dominic

Broadcast – The Book Lovers

Liberty, Fraternity, Anarchy: Le Punk Français

2011-03-02T23:18:00.000Z

Broadcast at the very un-punk time of 11.30am tomorrow morning (Thu 3 Mar), on the even less-punk Radio 4, Liberty, Fraternity, Anarchy: Le Punk Français is a 30 minute documentary uncovering the French contribution to the punk movement.

Synopsis from the Radio 4 website:

The recorded histories of punk concentrate on two places - the USA and England - and while it's true that much of the scene's most important activity took place there, one other key territory has been largely written out of the story - France. Andrew Hussey argues that without the French, punk would simply have been pub rock with shorter hair.

Many of the ideas, he shows, and much of the look of punk came from the French: Malcolm McLaren and Tony Wilson were hugely influenced by the Situationist movement in particular, and deliberately and explicitly trawled it for images and lyrics that were to become iconic punk expressions (the Sex Pistols record covers, lyrics such as 'Cheap holidays in other people's misery'...); the first festival of punk music took place at Mont de Marsan in 1976; the first Rough Trade release was from the Parisian band 'Metal Urbain'; the punk 'look' first embodied by Richard Hell was drawn straight from fin de siecle French poets, and the graffiti strewn clothing of The Clash comes straight from the 50s group les Lettrists.

As Hussey will show, not only did the French influence the international scene, it also contributed bands such as Stinky Toys, Marie et les Garcons and Starshooter, bands that often explored the potential of electronic music within the punk sound (an avenue unexplored by their US and UK equivalents) - anticipating the popularity of electronics over the course of the following years.

Hussey speaks with some of the key players in the French scene in the streets le punk francais took place to bring this forgotten moment in Gallic culture vividly to life.

There is also a preview of the programme on The Guardian website.

Liberty, Fraternity, Anarchy: Le Punk Français airs at 11.30am, Thursday 3rd March on BBC Radio 4
It will be available to listen again for one week after this on the iPlayer.

Gainsbourg remembered

2011-03-02T17:14:00.000Z

20 years ago today Monsieur Gainsbourg stubbed his very last Gitane...

Serge we salute you.

Je travaille

2011-03-02T16:28:00.001Z

Sorry for the lack of posts of late, I thought I was on a bit of a roll since the start of the year, but the last couple of weeks I've been too busy with an exhibition which starts this week.

My contribution is an archival artwork of approximately 1,966 individual post-it note "artworks" created whilst in boring desk-jobs over a 6-year period. This is what it looks like.

More info about the exhibition: http://workworkexhibition.tumblr.com/

L'Amour Electronique soirée this Saturday

2011-02-24T17:09:00.001Z

We will be holding our next L'Amour Electronique soirée this Saturday, and since it is almost 20 years since Monsieur Gainsbourg stubbed out his final Gitane, we will be digging out an extra helping of Serge-related sounds in his honour (as if we needed an excuse to play more Serge!)

L'AMOUR ELECTRONIQUE
Saturday 26 February
9pm - 3am
The West Hill, 67 Buckingham Place, BN1 3PQ
entry = FREE / GRATIS / £0.00

So, who's 'in' and who's 'out'?

Swingin' Mademoiselles interview Clothilde

2011-02-11T19:18:00.000Z

The Swingin' Mademoiselles facebook crew have just posted a rare interview with the ultra-mysterious Clothilde - it's a very insightful read, and great to get an insider's view of the French 60s yé-yé scene, particularly as, for once, it's not through rose-tinted John Lennon specs.

You can read the Clothilde interview at the Swingin' Mademoiselles facebook page.

Erotissimo

2011-02-03T13:13:00.004Z

The very helpful people at the Swingin' Mademoiselles facebook page tipped me off about the Annie Girardot track I posted in the Girls in the Garage vol. 12 (bonus) post [see the comments].

With a little help from a certain online translator, I deduced the song was from the 1969 film Erotissimo, and was written by Michel Polnareff (music) and Jean-Loup Dabadie (lyrics) [see previous post for the mp3 download].

The second half of this next clip features the nuts instrumental 'Excitissimo' by William Sheller (which was comped a few years ago on WIZZZ! Volume 1 (Born Bad Records)). Also, watch out for the ubiquitous Serge Gainsbourg cameo.

A brief synopsis of the film

A married woman in her 30's (Annie Girardot) tries to spice up her sex life with her distracted husband Philippe (Jean Yanne) under the deluge of sexy Swedish movies, sexy advertising on the streets, sexy intimate clothing in ladies' shops, and even talks about sex and marital infidelity with her mother and female friends. Philippe, a general manager of a dynamic company specializing in baby products becomes preoccupied with an upcoming tax audit. Even the presence of a beautiful fashion model who lives with Annie's brother fails to divert his attention.

Conclusions: I. WANT. TO. SEE. THIS. FILM.

John Barry R.I.P.

2011-01-31T22:41:00.000Z

It has been reported today that John Barry, one of the great film score composers of the 20th Century, has died.

We don't play much John Barry at L'Amour Electronique (his widescreen music is better suited to our sister night Tonight We Fly), but here are a few L'Amour related points of interest:

John Barry was Jane Birkin's first husband, with whom she had their daughter Kate.
John Barry composed the score to Beat Girl, which starred Gillian Hills.
John Barry was an early adopter of the Moog synthesizer - see his score for the Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969).

He also made great use of the synth on the awesome 'theme from The Persuaders' (1971).

His music will live on.

Girls in the Garage volume 12 (bonus)

2011-01-29T12:55:00.001Z

Pssssst! Remember I had an advance mp3 version of Girls in the Garage volume 12? And remember there was one track that was included on the vinyl version but not listed on the sleeve (Les Emeraudes - see comments on the previous post).

Well, the mp3s had 2 more songs tagged onto the end, and these are they:
(the Annie Girardot has quite a violent fade on the end - but that's the way it is.)

16. ~~Célia - Il n'y pas que toi~~
17. ~~Annie Girardot - La femme faux cils~~
[Girls in the Garage volume 12 is released on Saperlipopette in Europe and Dionysus Records in the US. You can order it direct from them or from bompstore.com | clearspot.nl | shinybeast.nl]

Does anyone know anything about these 2 mystery tracks?

L'Amour Electronique Samedi Soir + November setlist

2011-01-21T16:46:00.001Z

Salut! Our next L'Amour Electronique disco is this Saturday 22 January.
9pm - 3am at The West Hill in Brighton
entry is FREE all night

Join us for a late-night audio cocktail of 60s ye-ye, 80s synthpop, gallic freakbeat, plus many more things French and/or electronic.

We will be digging out a few choice Broadcast tracks in memory of Trish Keenan. Watch out also for songs from the ace new Girls In The Garage compilation, and lots of Francoise Hardy, whose birthday it was last Monday.

see you there!
xxx
ps. November's setlist is below

Here's the setlist from L’Amour Electronique on 27 November 2010. We've not included mp3s again, as, like the previous month, there will hopefully be a special mix available soon.

Verity

Petula Clark – Les James Dean

Pavement – Decouvert de Soleil

Depeche Mode – Enjoy The Silence

Stereolab – Les Yper-Sound

Bob Lapointe - Diba Diba

April March – Magic Ass

France Gall – Laisse Tomber Les Filles

The Knife – Pass This On

Dominic

Jenny Rock – Au Go Go

Boy From Brazil – Le Claqueur De Doigts

Joanna – Hold-up Inusité

Serge Gainsbourg et Jean-Claude Brialy - C’est La Cristallisation Comme Dit Stendhal

Stereo Total – Comme Un Garçon

Antoine – Les Élucubrations d’Antoine

Jacques Dutronc – Et Moi, Et Moi, Et Moi

John & Jehn – 20L07

I Monster – Who Is She?

Les Charlots – St. Rock

Michel Polnareff – Computer’s Dream

Sarah

France Gall – Zoï Zoï

Brigitte Bardot – Le Diable Est Anglais

Liz Brady – Bas Les Pattes

Sylvie Vartan – Koibito Jidai

Chantal Goya – Une Écharpe, Une Rose

Charlotte Gainsbourg – AF607105

Sebastien Tellier – Divine

Vive La Fête – Maladie d’un Fon

Stereo Total – Alaska

Verity

Jacques Dutronc – Je Suis Content

Pete Shelley – Qu’est-ce Que C’est Que Ça

Serge Gainsbourg – Marilu

Baby Birkin – Orangutan

Mareva Galanter avec Jacno – Bang Bang

Françoise Hardy – Coment Te Dire Adieu

Brigitte Bardot – Tu Veux Ou Tu Veux Pas

Dauerfisch – Peter Thomas Kann Nicht Zählen

Michel Polnareff – Y’a Que Pas Pouvoir Qu’on Peut

Human League – (Keep Feeling) Fascination

Dominic

Telex – Moskow Diskow

Large Number – The Number People

Jean-Claude Vannier – Je M’apelle Geraldine (up-tempo version)

Françoise Hardy – Apprends Le Moi

Gillian Hills – Oublie

Chantal Goya – Laisse Moi

Eddy Mitchell – Baseball

Serge Gainsbourg – En Melody

David Bowie – Weeping Wall

Jacques Brel – Amsterdam

Adèle – Je Ne Veux Plus D’Accordéon

Sarah

Brigitte Bardot – Bubblegum

France Gall – Dis á Ton Capitaine

Les Roche Martin – Les Mains Dans Les Poches

Mick Harvey & Anita Lane – 69 Erotic Year

Future Bible Heroes – I’m A Vampire

Momus – Trust Me, I’m A Doctor

Patrick Wolf – Bluebell

The Associates – 24 Carat Love Affair

John Foxx – Underpass

Verity

New Order – 586

Lio – Banana Split

France Gall - C’est Air La

Françoise Hardy – Que Mal y a-t-il á ça

Marie Laforêt – Et Si Je T’aime

Serge Gainsbourg – Requiem Pour Un Con

Ray Davies (BBC Radiophonic Workshop) – Breezy Bounce

Crystal Castles feat. Robert Smith – Not In Love

Jean-Michel Jarre – Magnetic Fields pt.4

Neon Neon – Neon Theme

Dominic

Stereolab – John Cage Bubblegum

Spider & The Flies - Spider & The Flies

Les 5 Gentlemen – Si Tu Reviens Chez Moi

Jacqueline Taïeb – 7 Heures Du Matin

Cosette – L’Idéalisation

Silicon Teens – You Really Got Me

Soft Cell – What

Stone – C’est Ma Vie

Monty – Que Me Reste-t-il?

Messieurs R. De Bordeaux Et D.Beretta – Psychose

Jacques Brel – Les Filles et Les Chiens

Sarah

Christie Laume – Agathe Ou Christie

Electronicat – Frisco Bay

Dandi Wind – Balloon Factory

Les Georges Leningrad – Missing Gary

Dauerfisch – So Gut

Add N To (X) – Take Me To Your Leader

Bis – Action + Drama

Qunitron & Miss Pussycat – Love Is Like A Blob

Stereo Total – Komplex Mit Dem Sex

Verity

Jacques Dutronc – Les Cactus

Catherine Desmarets – Les Petites Croix

Heavenly – Nous Ne Sommes Pas Des Anges

Belle & Sebastian – Electronic Renaissance

Jean-Michel Jarre – Oxgene pt.4

Sandie Shaw – Toujour Un Coin

Dominic

Jocelyne – Nitty Gritty

Bazooka – Dada Dodo (version instrumental)

Jiri Bezant/Jiri Malasek – Erotica 2

Kraftwerk – Autobahn (single edit)

Die Dorau + Die Marinas – Fred Vom Jupiter

Virginie Rodin – Commando Spatial

Michel Polnareff – Time Will Tell

Michel Legrand – Digue Ding Ding

Claude François – Ma Petite Amie est De Retour

Fabienne Delsol – Ce Jour La

Sarah

Ladytron – Another Breakfast With You

Pulp – Separations

Giorgio Moroder – From Here To Eternity

Verity

Hot Butter – Popcorn

Katerine – Louxor J’Adore

Vanessa Paradis – Joe Le Taxi

Dominic

Eileen – Ce Bottes Sont Faites Pour Marcher

Chevette – We Can Dance Again

Brigitte Bardot – Harley Davidson

Sarah

The B-52s – Planet Clare

Qunitron & Miss Pussycat – Dream Captain

Trish Keenan R.I.P.

2011-01-17T11:38:00.000Z

We heard the truly sad news that Trish Keenan, singer in Broadcast, passed away last Friday.

We have been big fans of Broadcast and their beautiful and spooky psych/jazz/kraut analogue electronica since their earliest records. A bright star has gone out...

Girls in the Garage volume 12

2011-01-13T16:22:00.003Z

Let’s face it: this French 60s lark is a bit of a niche market, so it’s always good news when a new compilation is unleashed for us fanatics to gobble up (especially when this particular fanatic only has 4 of the 14 tracks). What’s even better is that it has the Girls in the Garage seal of approval, and even more better-er are the rumours it was compiled by the elusive Sasha Monett, who gave us the essential Swinging Mademoiselle volumes 1 and 2. Yes, this latest G.i.t.G. could easily have been titled Swinging Mademoiselle volume 3. 11 years later and we finally have a formidable follow-up: tripleplusgood as we used to say in 1984.

Copies haven’t landed in the UK yet, but mine’s on its way from France – “14 charming French swinging ladies” on clear blue vinyl *drools*. Luckily I have a secret source who has sent me a preview mp3 version, here’s a blow-by-blow account:

Side 1
1. Les Chéries - Mai qui que quoi donc où (1967)
Typical femme pop: identical twins with sassy blonde pixie-cuts, add some cheesy Hammond, treble-y guitar jangle, a bit of brass, and that loose, bubbling French bass-style with a rapidly-descending scale every few bars, speed it up towards the end, and we’re on our way…

2. Evy - Une question qui se pose (1965)
This definitely pricked my ears up: Evy’s raunchy cover of ‘Questions I Can’t Answer’ by Joe Meek’s golden boy Heinz. I do love those RGM productions but this has got a hell of a lot more balls to it!

3. Tonia - Un petit rien (1966)
Who is Tonia? I have no idea. Belgian you say? All I know is she’s got those cute France Gall vocal-stylings down pat and some cool echo on her voice when she hits the refrain. There’s a very pleasant booming reverb sound to this whole recording, and my motto is: you can never have too much reverb!

4. Les Princesses - Oh! dis-moi (1966)
Ooh! Fuzz bass and, what I like to call, the Sesame Street 3-chord piano rhythm (see also Liz Brady’s ‘Bas Les Pattes’). Les Princesses were a girl group from French Guyana – dig those Rhythm & Blues.

5. Annie Markan - Raconte-moi (1966)
Annie was the ‘A’ in Les Gam’s, she went solo and gave us some soulful songs that, apparently, didn’t make her a star. This one reminds me of some of Petula Clark’s French releases. Which is a good thing.

6. Pascale & Suzie - Les rendez-vous Menier (1966)
Can you really sell chocolate bars with a garage-y dance-floor shaker like this? Menier seemed to think so: according to the sleeve notes it was released as a promotional record for their chocolate bars. Thankfully Pascal & Suzie (the ‘S’ in Les Gam’s) make it sound more like they’re going to the hip new beat-club in Paris. You must have heard of Le Menier. No?

7. Caroline - Mister a gogo (1967)
I ask myself: Do I really need a French version of David Bowie’s ‘The Laughing Gnome’? Probably not, it’s fun, but I’ve already found myself skipping onto side 2. It’s a strange inlcusion, especially as it was included as a bonus track on the CD version of SM vol 2. What could have been worse, though, would have been a French version of one of Bowie’s mime skits. I’ll let you think about that while you turn the record over…

Side Two
1. Christie Laume - Chic voilà le soleil (1968)
Yay! One of Christie’s only 16 songs that hasn’t already been comp’ed, I can’t think why, ‘cause this is ace! A really wonky pop number, hooked around a brilliantly odd piano and glockenspiel(?) motif, that shows off her “unique” singing style at it’s best.

2. Katty Line - Un petit peu d'amour (1969)
Katty Line covers Aussie mods The Easybeats: Maximum R&B en Français!

3. Jany L. - Le restaurant Chinois (1968)
I first heard about this rare mademoiselle on the superlative, but sadly defunct, Spiked Candy blog. I don’t think I’m alone in wondering why this has never found its way onto any French compilations until now. Our Jany likes eating in the Chinese restaurant because she get to use chopsticks instead of a fork. There’s a song in there somewhere: a driving, beat-style belter of a song with some deliciously clichéd oriental motifs on the xylophone. Casual racism? Perhaps they were more innocent times in 1968.

4. Marjorie Noël - Au temps des princes charmants (1967)
I swear this is a cover. No idea what, but it sounds very familiar. Marjorie looks too young to be doing grown up songs like this, but she holds herself well. The result: A big production with vibraphones, horns, a motown beat, and a vocal that stays just on the right side of sickly.

5. Clothilde - Le Boa (1967)
Every French yé-yé comp needs a Clothilde song, so here we are: another fantastique piece of everything-and-the-kitchen-sink production from the ace Germinal Tenas - baroque-fuzz-pop perfection.

6. Charlotte Walters - Fleurs de pavots bleus (1969)
A freaky-psychedelic slow burner, full of faux-Eastern mystique. Is this really what Les Fleurs de Pavots listen to when they’re down? Or is it just a sly, hippy-drippy piss-take?

7. Kathy - Ma moto (1973)
Another one to add to the ‘Girl on a Motorcycle’ genre (see BB’s ‘Harley Davidson’ and Dani’s ‘La Fille à la Moto’). A bit of a late-comer, but a welcome addition: early-70’s road-worthy rhythm and blues with some sexy Jean-Claude Vannier-style strings and breathy backing vocals. Oh and the sound of motorbikes revving up and roaring off into the horizon.

I think we deserve to hear a couple of songs after all that:
~~Evy - Une question qui se pose~~
~~Les Princesses - Oh! dis-moi~~
[Girls in the Garage volume 12 is released on Saperlipopette in Europe and Dionysus Records in the US. You can order it direct from them or from bompstore.com | clearspot.nl | shinybeast.nl]

L'Amour à la Chaîne pt.3

2011-01-07T17:47:00.002Z

Happy New Year!

Our first (proper) post of 2011 is the next step in the chain of love: The link is Marseille, where a certain Italian composer heard the 3-note police siren that inspired the stirring and monumental Je Changerais D'Avis...

Les 5 Gentlemen formed in Corsica as Les Ambitieux, but set up base in Marseille where they switched names and honed their Franco-R'n'B psych-garage sound. They also had a pop at the British pop charts releasing one single - Daytime: an English language cover of Dis-Nous Dylan - under the name of Darwin's Theory. It bombed. In 1966 they released their first ep for Riviera with a true freakbeat stomper as the lead track.

Cara-Lin, is a cover of a song originally written and recorded by the writer/producer team of Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer (aka FGG Productions) for their faux-Aussie garage band The Strangeloves.

Check out this freakout Scopitone of Les Gents performing under the arches at some crazy, drug-fuelled happening.

Other essentials by Les 5 Gentlemen include the acid-nightmare LSD 25 and piano-led belter Si Tu Reviens Chez Moi.

~~Les 5 Gentlemen - Cara-Lin~~
[buy Les 5 Gentlemen from Amazon.fr | discogs.com]

...................................................................
L'Amour à la Chaîne: what will be the next link in the chain? Leave your suggestions and reasons in the comments.
Jacques Dutronc - L'Amour à la Chaîne > Françoise Hardy - Je Changerais D'Avis > Les 5 Gentlemen – Cara-Lin > ?

Mick Karn R.I.P.

2011-01-05T18:27:00.002Z

Mick Karn, the man responsible for all those fluid-as-honey Japan bass-lines, died yesterday. Let's take a minute or two to enjoy one of his finest moments:

A very Gainsbourg nativity

2010-12-22T14:08:00.001Z

I remember seeing this a few years ago: Noël à Vaugirard the yé-yé version of the nativity with Serge as Joseph and a pregnant Chantal Goya as Mary, plus appearances from Jacques Dutronc and Sylvie Vartan. It was originally broadcast on Dim Dam Dom in 1966 - just your average nativity, really: Jesus is born in an abattoir, with gospel nurses and a talking cow and donkey in attendance!

Noël à Vaugirard (1966) avec Serge Gainsbourg (17 minutes)

Joyeux Noël

French Radio London listener survey

2010-12-01T10:24:00.000Z

French Radio London has launched a listener survey to help them tailor their output to meet the demands of their potential audience.

This is your chance to tell them what you want to hear.

The survey should take no more than 15 minutes, and all completed questionnaires will be entered into a prize draw (closing date 12th December)

The FRL survey can be taken HERE

L'Amour Electronique this Saturday

2010-11-25T14:43:00.000Z

This Saturday it is the final L'Amour Electronique of the year, here are the details so you can join us if you are able:

Saturday 27th November
9pm - 3am
The West Hill, 67 Buckingham Place, BN1 3PQ
£FREE ENTRY ALL NIGHT

We will be playing all things French, all things synth, and other things electronic.
Plus the pub is cosy and warm and serves fine wines, ales and spirits (with student discounts!).
Fingers crossed there will be a TV (the other one was commandeered) and we can show this:

SETLIST from 23 October 2010

2010-11-24T10:02:00.001Z

Here is last month's setlist. No mp3 selections this time, but you will soon be able to listen to a 2 hour mix recorded on the night. This will be aired in the next couple of weeks, so watch this space.

Sarah

Christie Laume - L'Adorable Femmes Des Neige

Brigitte Bardot – La Madrague

Charlotte Gainsbourg - The Operation

Sebastien Tellier – Manty

Clor – Good Stuff

Stereo Total – Mars Rendezvous

Glass Candy – Candy Castle

Electronicat – Frisco Bay

Dominic

Brigitte Bardot – Contact

Michel Polnareff – Oiseau de Nuit

Biky – Reponses

Joe Gracy & Michel Paje - Valérie Se Rebelle

Stereolab – Sun Demon

Jacques Dutronc – Il Est Cinq Heures Paris S'Eveille

Jean-Jacques Perrey – Mister James Bond

France Gall – Sacré Charlemagne

Stone – Auguste le Chat

Fabienne Delsol – Pas Adieu

Verity

Mareva – Pourquoi pas moi

Dalida – Petit Elephant Twist

Françoise Hardy – Pourtant tu M’aimes

Marie Laforêt - Mais si loin de moi

Air – Talisman

Stereo Total – Barbe à Papa

Human League – Open Your Heart

Eurythmics – Here Comes the Rain Again

Deux – Dance With Me

Sarah

Feline 1 – Touch and Go

The Chap – Now Woel

Stereo Total – Miss Rébellion Des Hormones

Christie Laume – Rouge Rouge

Jacques Dutronc – Sur Une Nappe De Restaurant

Chantal Goya – D’abord dis-moi ton nom

Sylvie Vartan – De Bonheur

Baby Birkin – Black…White

The Rogers Sisters – Les Fantasies sont Bien

Devo – The Day My Baby Gave Me a Big Surprise

Buggles – Video Killed the Radio Star

Dominic

Ladytron – Mu-Tron

We Are Enfant Terrible – Snap Dragon

Jenny Rock – Mal

Les 5 Gentlemen – Si tu Reviens Chez Moi

Daniel Gérard – Sexologie

Pierre Henry & Michel Legrand – Teen Tonic

Serge Gainsbourg – Initials BB

Stereolab – Percolator

Verity

The Normal – Warm Leatherette

C++ - Dé-rock ‘n’ Rollisation

M – Pop Musik

Jane Birkin - Raccrochez c'est une Horreur

Depeche Mode – The Meaning of Love

France Gall - Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son

Michel Polnareff – Tout Tout pour ma Chérie

Jacques Dutronc - La Leçon De Gymnastique Du Professeur Dutronc

Lio – Amoureux Solitaires

Brigitte Bardot – Bubblegum

Hot Butter – Popcorn

Add N to (X) – Adding N to (X)

Sarah

Dandi Wind – Balloon Factory

Adult – Pressure Suit

Cobra Killer – Let’s Have a Problem

Stereo Total – Illégal

Ria Bartok – Écoute mon Coeur

Orlane Paquin – Le Train de 10h03

Francis Lai – Un Homme et Une Femme (instrumental version)

Chantal Goya – Dans la Nuit

Soft Cell – Say Hello, Wave Goodbye

Dominic

Charlotte Gainsbourg – IRM

Michèle et ses Wouaps – Dam Dam

Gillian Hills – Tu Mens

Fabienne Delsol – Ce Jour La

John Baker (BBC Radiophonic Workshop) – The Chase

Monty - Que Me Reste-t-il?

Cettina – Cettina

Stereo Total – Musique Automatique

Add N to (X) – The Monkey Skirt Marters

Anna Karina – Rollergirl

Joe Gracy & Michel Paje - Sur La Route

Dani – La Fille à La Moto

Verity

Stereolab – Lo Boob Oscillator

Human League – (Keep Feeling) Fascination

Serge Gainsbourg et Charlotte Gainsbourg – Lemon Incest

Yazoo – Nobody’s Diary

Françoise Hardy – Je Veux Q’uil Revienne

Jacques Dutronc – Le Responsable

Pulp – Styloroc (Nites of Suburbia)

Sarah

Human League – Rock ‘n’ Roll

John Foxx – Burning Car

The Associates – Skipping

Soft Cell – Tainted Love / Where did our Love Go?

Depeche Mode – New Life

Dominic

Miss Pain – Shelf-Location ROM (r@zorbla.de softcover remix)

Michel Polnareff – La Mouche

Eileen - Ces Bottes Sont Faites Pour Marcher

Ladytron – He Took Her to a Movie

Takako Minekawa - Fantastic Cat

Christine Pilzer - Champs Élysées

Sarah

Grace Jones – La Vie en Rose

Serge Gainsbourg – Docteur Jekyll et Monsieur Hyde

Jean-Michel Jarre – Oxygene (Pt 4)

Vic 20 – Sweet Child O’ Mine

Dominic

Baby Birkin – St Tropez

Christine et Ses Copains – Mon Mini-Croullant

Jacqueline Taïeb – 7 Heures du Matin

Brigitte Bardot – Moi Je Joue

OMD – Electricity

Coralie Clément – Vis à Vis

Sarah

Soft Cell – Bedsitter

Japan – Life in Tokyo

Dominic

Stereo Total – Je Rêve Encore de Toi

M83 – Violet Tree

French Language disque

Swinging Mademoiselle vol. 3

2010-11-19T18:38:00.000Z

News in yesterday via the Swingin' Mademoiselles facebook page. Sasha Monett has been compiling Girls in the Garage volume 12. Yes, that's Sasha Monett who put together both essential Swinging Mademoiselle comps. It may be titled Girls in the Garage, but essentially it is Swinging Mademoiselle volume 3. Scheduled for a fall release (in the UK too, please!) on Dionysus Records.

L'Amour à la Chaîne pt.2

2010-11-19T11:24:00.002Z

From Jacques Dutronc's L'Amour à la Chaîne we move on to...

Françoise Hardy's Je Changerais D'Avis.

There are some obvious links: We could focus in on Dutronc and Hardy, arguably French pop's most beautiful couple, who finally married in 1981, and only recently separated (though they still remain close); Or on the fact both tracks were released on the Disques Vogue label; It's also worth mentioning that Dutronc penned one of Hardy's early hits Le Temps De L'Amour.

But no, Jacques Lanzmann is the shared interest. It was he who co-wrote the majority Dutronc's back-catalogue, but did you know he collaborated with Françoise Hardy on the French lyrics for Je Changerais D'Avis?

Released in 1966, this is possibly the most emotionally charged song in Françoise Hardy's back catalogue: it opens with a disarmingly understated verse and bridge, then just explodes into a great, big heartbreaking chorus. A brief pause for breath and a snare-roll, then it rockets off higher into the stratosphere. It's one of those songs, like River Deep, Mountain High, that leaves you breathless and ragged, and it never fails to bring a tear to my eye.

And the composer of this musical rollercoaster? Genius cinematic soundtracker Ennio Morricone.

According to legend the 3-note melody was based on the police sirens Morricone heard from his Marseille hotel room one night. He composed a spiralling, repetitive cycle which ran through 8 tonal transitions, the tension building with each one. The song was originally released as Se Telefonando earlier in 1966 by Italian belter Mina, with lyrics by Maurizio Costanzo.

~~Françoise Hardy - Je Changerais D'Avis~~
[buy Françoise Hardy from iTunes | Amazon.uk | cdandlp.com]

...................................................................
L'Amour à la Chaîne: what will be the next link in the chain? Leave your suggestions and reasons in the comments.
Jacques Dutronc - L'Amour à la Chaîne > Françoise Hardy - Je Changerais D'Avis > ?

French Radio London launches this Wednesday

2010-11-15T11:00:00.000Z

This Wednesday 17th November sees the launch of French Radio London. Tune in at midday on DAB digital radio* or online at www.frenchradiolondon.com.

* You may need to do a re-scan on your digital radio to find it.

[see previous post for more info on FRL]

L'Amour à la Chaîne pt.1

2010-11-08T11:03:00.001Z

Welcome to a brand new, ongoing L'Amour Electronique blog theme: "L'Amour à la Chaîne".

The idea is to gradually build up a chain of songs, with each song connected in some way to the previous link in the chain. The links may be clever, stupid, convoluted, tenuous, based on fact or fiction - just as long as there is some kind of relationship from one song to the next...

The opening link in the chain is, of course, the eponymous L'Amour à la Chaîne, an early 70's, scratchy violin/call-and-response hyper-rock'n'roller by Jacques Dutronc.

Written by Dutronc and his long-term song-writing partner Jacques Lanzmann, the song was released in 1974 as the b-side to L'Aventurier (which featured in the film O.K. Patron, 1973, with Monsieur Dutronc in the role of "Gangster by accident, Gentleman by vocation".)

L'Amour à la Chaîne is also the title of a 1964 film by Claude de Givray (released in the UK with the dubious Carry On-esque title of Tight Skirts, Loose Pleasures). Ostensibly a film about prostitution or "love in the chain", it made Jean-Luc Godard's Cahiers Du Cinéma top ten in the year of its release.

~~Jacques Dutronc - L'Amour à la Chaîne~~
[buy Jacques Dutronc from iTunes | Amazon.uk | discogs.com]

...................................................................
L'Amour à la Chaîne: what will be the next link in the chain? Leave your suggestions and reasons in the comments.
Jacques Dutronc - L'Amour à la Chaîne > ?

C'est Chic! (Ace Records)

2010-11-04T18:21:00.002Z

My copy of the new Ace Records C'est Chic! album dropped onto the doormat this morning...

It fulfils its role as an introduction to "French girl singers of the 1960s", and still has something to offer enthusiasts/trainspotters like me seeking new gems to sate their appetite.

Over the 24 songs, they've picked a few familiar tracks that have popped up in films and TV ads (B.B. as recently heard on a Stella beer ad; Françoise Hardy's Voila, which soundtracked a Horlicks ad, then was plundered by R*bbie W*ll*ams; Laisser Tomber Les Filles, which the whole world will no doubt recognise as April March's Chickhabit from that Tarrantino flick).

There's also a handful of yé-yé 'classics' like Roller Girl, C'est La Mode, and, possibly the most comped French pop track ever Les Filles C'est Fait Pour Faire L'amour by Charlotte Leslie (5 compilation inclusions and counting), and it does sometimes feel like these outshine the more obscure numbers.

A real bonus is the hefty booklet filled with record covers and photos of the featured girls, plus the extensive track-by-track commentaries penned by the people behind Ready Steady Girls.

For me, it was worth the entry fee alone for Louise Cordet's scratchy violin twister, Michèle Torr's Gainsbourg-penned canter-along, and especially the closing Liz Brady number: Il Suffit D'un Jour sounds like a long-lost Bond-theme (in French of course). A heady 2 minutes 48 of John Barry-esque strings, brass, harpsichord and timpani-laden drama directed by Jacques Denjean.

~~Liz Brady - Il Suffit D'un Jour~~
[buy C'est Chic! from Amazon.uk]

C'est Chic! comp OUT TODAY

2010-11-01T11:14:00.001Z

Thanks to Ready Steady Girls for the tip-off about this new Ace Records compilation of 60s French girls.

The tracklisting looks promising: a strong selection of ye-ye classics (Roller Girl, Laisser Tomber Les Filles, C'est La Mode, etc), plus some more obscure cuts from Louise Cordet, Les Gam's and Jocelyne. I have to say the cover is a bit disappointing though. I'm sure they could have found a more hip and sassy photo to adorn it (even of France Gall!).

I've just ordered my copy from Amazon.co.uk.
...................................................................................................
[forgot to mention, Mick Patrick, who helped put the compilation together, has chosen 6 of his faves for you to listen to in Ready Steady Girls' November Pick of the Pops]

ZOMBIE ZOMBIE HALLOWE'EN HORROR

2010-10-31T19:09:00.002Z

This one ticks quite a few boxes: Zombie Zombie, a French Band with synthesizers covering John Carpenter's ultra-sinister piano/synth Hallowe'en original

Zombie Zombie - Halloween Main Theme by Versatile Records

For more scary and disturbing music you could do worse than listen to today's editions of Jarvis Cocker's Sunday Service and Stuart Maconie's Freak(ier) Zone (both available via BBC iPlayer for the next 7 days).

I had hoped to put together a synth/electronic follow-up to last year's Quelle Horreur! comp for you, but I've been working on something secret and big that has taken up all my time (I can't say what it is yet, but all will be revealed soon).

So, in case you missed it last year, here is L'Amour Electronique's Quelle Horreur! vol. 1

1. Stella - Si vous connaissez quelque-chose de pire qu'un vampire, parlez m'en toujours, ça pourra peut-être me faire sourire

2. Serge Gainsbourg - Docteur Jekyll Et Monsieur Hyde

3. Christine Pilzer - Dracula

4. Les Maledictus Sound - Kriminal Theme

5. Evariste - Connais-Tu I'animal Qui Inventa Le Calcul Integral

6. France Gall - Frankenstein

7. Jany L. - Mon Joli Vampire

8. Gérard Manset - Animal on est mal

9. Les Maledictus Sound - Monster Cocktail

10. Nicole Paquin - Mon Mari C'est Frankenstein

11. Brigitte Bardot - Le Diable Est Anglais

12. Stereo Total - Film D'Horreur

You can download it via the original post

Soirée this Saturday (now with added visuals)

2010-10-20T19:22:00.000+01:00

This Saturday sees us back in The West Hill for another L'Amour Electronique
[9pm-3am / 67 Buckingham Place, BN1 3PQ / Free Entry]

Guests can expect the (un)usual mix of 60s yé-yé, Gallic pop, synthesized sounds, freakbeat, electronics and other delights. But this time there will be additional eye-candy in the form of some Nouvelle Vague cinema and music videos up on the TV.

We've not decide what we're screening yet, but I'm eager to give this one a showing

Love Is Amour In French

2010-10-15T18:31:00.002+01:00

I'll be honest, I'm not the most prolific blogger on the internet, so it probably doesn't surprise any of the (6) readers of this blog that the posts have been a bit sporadic of late.

My excuse: I've been busy elsewhere, making paintings and showing them in my first solo exhibition. Here's a painting that should appeal to L'Amour Electronique followers:

The exhibition is finished now, but there are photos and a short video tour on my other blog Confessions of a Wednesday Painter, if you are interested in seeing more...

Enough shameless plugging. Train-spotters might like to know that the title/subject matter for that painting was borrowed from this mildly cheesy slice of late 70s Franco-English Canadian disco (dig the Jeff Wayne-style orchestration and that melody so brazenly lifted from Chopin/Jane B).

~~Anne Marie - Love Is Amour In French~~

French Radio London

2010-10-14T12:22:00.001+01:00

Verity heard about this a couple of months ago...

Looks like good news for all London's French speakers and Francophiles. French Radio London (the capital's first French language station) has secured a DAB digital radio license and will launch towards the end of the year. Pascal Grierson, who set up the station, explains the music policy:

"French radio has a 40 per cent [French music] quota; we want to impose an 80 per cent quota here. We will not ignore English-language music but we want to give our listeners something they will remember from their childhood."

You can stream an hour long teaser podcast from the website (signs are good: the playlist includes Serge Gainsbourg, Francoise Hardy, Brigitte Bardot and Juliette Greco, alongside some more modern French music). And for those of us outside the capital, FRL will also be available online and via mobile apps.

We'll keep you posted if we hear any more...

Pas Adieu

2010-10-01T19:39:00.001+01:00

Just got myself a copy of the new Fabienne Delsol album, and a beautiful listen it is too! Fabienne is a French chick living in London, she used to be in a band called The Bristols. Nowadays she records albums full of vintage warmth with her hubby Liam Watson at Toe Rag studios. Liam is a kind of latter-day Joe Meek, his studio decked out with all manner of analogue gear: lots of valves and big knobs, echo chambers and tape machines. The sound is rich and authentic, and could almost be mistaken for some lost R.G.M. session tapes recorded at 304 Holloway Rd in the mid-sixties.

The songs are a mixture of covers and originals, sung in English and French (could have done with more French ones in my opinion...). I'd already heard a couple on the wireless, and one in particular jumped out every time: Pas Adieu, it sounds like some of the sweetest of Chantal Goya's output between 1964 and 1967, and has a naggingly brilliant little pause that works its way into your mind and lodges itself there.

~~Fabienne Delsol - Pas Adieu~~
[buy Fabienne Delsol from Damaged Goods]

For a while, I thought it was just one of those songs that sounded familiar, because of the handful of influences it wears on its sleeve. But once I'd bought the album and checked the credits, three familiar names were listed: Régo/Rinaldi/Vogue. Of course! Luis Régo and Gérard Rinaldi from Les Problèmes (1er Groupe Authentique de Rhythm and Blues 100% Français). My detective work is done for the day!

~~Les Problèmes - Pas Adieu~~
[buy Les Problèmes from Amazon.uk]

As well as Les Problèmes, Fabienne covers Sylvie Vartan's Ce Jour La, and Strange Shadows from Françoise Hardy's 1970 English album One-Nine-Seven-Zero, Fabienne plays a rare show in London on 3rd October at The 100 Club. And I'm gutted, cos I can't go.

a little hush please...

2010-09-24T16:29:00.001+01:00

This has finally exorcised the horrid memories of K*la Sh*ker (if you don't know what I'm talking about, you're a very lucky reader)

the production line

2010-09-23T23:29:00.000+01:00

An evening in with the watercolour paints, chez L'Amour Electronique...

Samedi Soir: Synthesized sounds, French Pop and Electronic Delights

2010-09-23T20:16:00.001+01:00

This Saturday, 9pm - 3am at The West Hill, Brighton. F R E E E N T R Y.

we will be ensconced in the homely surrounds of The West Hill, in our very own tricolore-swathed corner.

There will be music:
French boys and French girls doing freakbeat, ye-ye and bubblegum POP!
synthesized sounds from the glacial to the disco to the dirty synthcore.
electronic pioneers and bleeps and noises...
(basically anything that is French or electronic or both!)

There will also be fine wines, ales and spirits, bar snacks and parlour games to while away the evening. And you can dance if you can find a space. yeah!

Porno a GO-GO

2010-09-23T14:39:00.009+01:00

Currently receiving repeat rotation at L'Amour Electronique HQ is this amazing French-Canadian porn soundtrack from 1969.

I discovered Valérie recently over at Psyquébélique. It seems it is one of those "lost" soundtracks, and has never been officially released. Together with Otis Fodder and S.Ébastien at Patrimoine PQ, Simon Psyquébélique has ripped the soundtrack direct from the DVD, complete with sound-effects and snippets of dialogue, and with some sleek artwork based on the original movie poster.

Michel Paje and Joe Gracy's compositions are surely up there with such heavyweight Frenchies as Jean-Claude Vannier and Serge's music for Pierre Koralnik's Anna. The dialogue snippets and sound-effects on Valérie serve to make it all the more evocative, with some tasty motorcycle action, answer-phone messages, and what appears to be a struggle with the most archetypal French porn villain imaginable (check the "Ah! NO, NO, No-No-No-No!" during Le Premier Client). Meanwhile the music veers from hypnotic, spy-flick piano to kitsch go-go, via sitar exotica, hammond funk, and some of the most maudlin tunes I've heard since those badly-dubbed foreign-serials they used to show when I was a kid, during school holidays.

You can download this unofficial version of Valérie for free from Psyquébélique, go there now and tell him L'Amour Electronique tipped you off.

The Autumnal Equinox

2010-09-22T14:54:00.002+01:00

At around 3.09am tomorrow morning the autumnal equinox will occur. It sounds a little foreboding, but it's just the signal of the end of the summer months and the beginning of winter. Pagans will be celebrating and the rest of us in the northern hemisphere can just use it as a reminder to dig our scarves out and prepare for the cold months ahead. It would be depressing if it wasn't such a glorious sunny day outside today.

Here's Jean-Michel Jarre getting all autumnal:

covered and appropriated

2010-09-08T17:27:00.008+01:00

Stereo Total have recorded the Brigitte Fontaine/Jean-Claude Vannier track Barbe à Papa for their latest album. For the video, they've appropriated a fictional advert directed by Serge Gainsbourg's character in the film Slogan...

NEW POSTER

2010-08-23T12:17:00.004+01:00

Verity has designed a striking new poster. Hope you like it as much as we do.

In case it needs spelling out:
The next L'Amour Electronique is this Saturday, 9pm-3am at The West Hill, Buckingham Place, Brighton.
Entry is FREE as always, and we will be playing all manner of French Ye-Ye and Gallic Freakbeat, plus tons of synth-laden soundtracks and electronic ditties.

Plastic Bertrand admits: Ça n'etait pas moi

2010-07-29T11:48:00.004+01:00

slow news day at The Guardian...

Belgian singer blames former producer after admitting his was not voice on Ça Plane Pour Moi.

"The Belgian singer Plastic Bertrand has admitted that the voice that gave the world the 1977 Euro-punk anthem Ça Plane Pour Moi was not his. Roger Jouret, the man behind the Plastic Bertrand persona, had previously denied that he was not the singer on the record. But in an interview with the Belgian newspaper Le Soir, he admitted it had been another singer – and laid the blame at the door of his former producer, Lou Deprijck. His admission came a day after a linguist commissioned by a judge concluded that the singer's accent did not match the voice on the record."

..........................................................
Looks like Mr Bertrand had a pang of guilt, the allegations were only reported on Tuesday! Unbelievably a linguistic expert was brought in to analyse the vocal phrasing on the song and concluded that all was not cool.

Serge-fest

2010-07-25T19:24:00.006+01:00

Last Sunday, Verity and I went to a free screening of the Gainsbourg film. For some reason it's been re-titled Je T'aime... Moi Non Plus for the English speaking market, perhaps to make it more accessible to a new audience by referencing the one song most people know from his back-catalogue. But definitely a bit confusing for anyone who knows a bit more about Gainsbourg and has knowledge of his own 1976 directed film Je T'aime... Moi Non Plus.

I picked up this glossy little pamphlet at the cinema:

I won't spoil the film for anyone who's not seen it yet, but it was definitely a better viewing experience than when I first saw it on a longhaul flight (on a six-inch screen with altitude sickness and jumbo-jet engines roaring in the background). Joann Sfar has used his artistic-license in building the Gainsbourg narrative around the myths and tales that make Serge's life so colourful. There is much spinning of yarns and embellishing of myths, which turn what could've been a straight-down-the-line biopic into an almost fantastical, hallucinatory tale.

Later that evening, we reacquainted ourselves with some a little Serge-fest on DVD, comme ça...

CE SOIR - L'AMOUR ELECTRONIQUE

2010-07-24T18:09:00.003+01:00

Sorry been a bit slack with posting of late (far too many excuses to reel off just now)...

All you need to know is
L'Amour Electronique is tonight,
9pm - 3am
at The West Hill, 67 Buckingham Place, Brighton.
It is free entry, so you can drop in at any time.

As well as the usual Frrrench Pop and ye-ye, Synth-heavy sounds and electronic music, I have a load of Gainsbourg gems I'm eager to play after seeing the film again last Sunday.
All hail dirty ol' Serge!

Gainsbourg free screenings this Sunday

2010-07-17T17:29:00.003+01:00

See page 7 of today's Guardian Guide cinema listings for details...

Breathless

2010-07-12T12:12:00.007+01:00

Finally got to see the 50th Anniversary re-print of Godard's À Bout De Souffle (or Breathless if you can't pronounce the French) last Friday. I've seen it countless times on DVD, but seeing it on the big screen it had so much more impact. It was, if you pardon the pun, close to breathtaking.

I urge you to go and see it if you can.

Here's a little mp3 tribute to the scene above: A song I first discovered on (the sadly latent) Spiked Candy back in July 2007 . Hopefully she won't mind me re-posting it now...

~~Jany. L - Herald Tribune~~

[Feeling rich? You can buy Jany. L's only 2 seven-inches from cdandlp.com!]

L'Amour Electronique strikes tonight

2010-06-26T11:31:00.003+01:00

Ce Soir, c'est L'Amour Electronique!

9pm - 3am

The West Hill Tavern, 67 Buckingham Place, Brighton, BN1 3PQ

Come treat your ears to the finest in synthesized sounds and Frrrrenchy POP!

frrrrrrrrreeeeeee entry all night

setlist 27 March 2010

2010-06-24T19:58:00.010+01:00

More catching up: here's the setlist from March, when we were joined by guest DJ Ray Paul, or Eddie as his mum knows him. He added a heavy dusting of euro-synth-disco to the evening.

[You may also notice the blog now has handy little players for each of the mp3s. Ooh! Aren't we hi-tech?]

Dominic
Fabeinne Delsoll – I’m Gonna Catch Me A Rat
Alice Dona – Une Voiture Rouge
Gary Numan – Cars
Stereolab – Les Yper Sound
Stereo Total – Heaven’s In The Back Seat of My Cadillac
Claire Dixon – Fleurs, Vent
Kraftwerk – Trans Europe Express
Jacques Dutronc – L’Idole
John et Jehn – 20L07
Verity
Deux – Dance With Me
Yazoo – Only You
Françoise Hardy – Et Même
Rika Zaraï – Le Temps des Vacances
Mareva Galanter – Pourquoi Pas Moi
Soft Cell – Bedsitter
Yelle – Je Veux Te Voir
Plastic Bertrand – Ça Plane Pour Moi
OMD – Enola Gay
Jean-Michel Jarre – Equinoxe pt.5
Eddie
Koto – Jabdah
Jago – I’m Going To Go
Den Harrow – A Taste Of Love
Checko – Firelight
Flexx – Carry On (Flemming Dalum mix)
Gino Soccio – Remember
Dominic
Keine Ahnung – Plastik
Nicole et Frédéric – Dans L’Année 2525
Ronnie Bird – Chante
Zombie Zombie – Nightclubbing
Soft Cell – Frustration
Françoise Cactus – You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory
Serge Gainsbourg – Requiem Pour Un Con
Suzanne Gabriello – Z’Avez Pas Lu Kafka
Léo Petit – Tu Parles Trop
Gillian Hills – Oublie
Les Gam’s – Attention! Accident!
Verity
Dominique Walter – Les Petits Boudins
Stereolab – Escape Pod (from the world of medical observations)
Magnetic Fields – In My Car
Françoise Hardy – Les Petits Garçons
Jacques Dutronc – Je Suis Content
Claude François – C’est La Même Chanson
Add N To (X) – Adding N To X
Relaxed Muscle – Billy Jack
The Knife – Like A Pen
Sarah
Glass Candy – Beatific
Sebastien Tellier – Fingers Of Steel
Pulp – This Is Hardcore
Jacques Dutronc – Mini, Mini, Mini
Chantal Goya – Dans La Nuit
Magnetic Fields – I Thought You Were My Boyfriend
Clor – Good Stuff
Air – Electronic Performers
Add N To (X) - Steve's Going To Teach Himself Who's Boss
Eddie
Putsch ’79 – Steam Engine
Yellow Magic Orchestra – Ballet
Mr. Master – A Dog In The Night
Purple Flash – We Can Make It (Instrumental)
Ryan Paris – Dolce Vita
Vicious Pink – CCCant You See… (extended mix)
Paul Ray – My Machine (Flemming Dallum mix)
Dominic
Sparks – Beat The Clock
Virginie Rodin – Commando Spatial
Serge Gainsbourg et Jean-Claude Brialy – C’est La Cristallisation Comme Dit Standahl
Plastics – Robot
Brezel Göring – Ich Bin So Süchtig
Christine et Ses Copains – Mon Mini Croullant
Jacques Brel – Jacky
Brigitte Bardot – St Tropez
Léo Petit – Kili-Watch
Nino Ferrer – Oh! He! Hein! Bon!
France Gall – Sacre Charlemagne
Johnny Halliday - Noir C’est Noir
Verity
Rika Zaraï – Fais Pas Pleurer Les Filles
Serge Gainsbourg – Shu Ba Du Ba Lu Ba
Michel Polnareff – Dans La Maison Vide
OMD – Electricity
New Order – Perfect Kiss
Black Box Recorder – These Are The Things
Hot Butter – Popcorn
Sarah
France Gall – Les Sucettes
Liz Brady – Bas Les Pattes
Brigitte Bardot – Le Diable Est Anglais
Stereo Total – Kusse Aus Der Holle Der Musik
Quintron & Miss Pussycat – Swamp Buggy Badass
Devo – Time Out For Fun
John Foxx – No-one Driving
Human League – Empire State Human
Japan – Life In Tokyo
Yacht – We Have All We’ve Ever Wanted
Eddie
Miro Monroe – Nights Of Arabia
Cube – Concert boy
Yellow Magic Orchestra – Tong Poo
J.M. Band – Computer Monkey
Jackpot – Night Flight (instrumental)
Fake – Frogs In Spain
Blue Russell – I Wanna Fly Away (instrumental)
Big Ben Tribe – Tarzan Loves The Summer Nights
Omar S – Set It Out
FPU – Crockett’s Theme
Dominic
Dave Rogers - theme from Cybernoid (Zx Spectrum 128K)
Petula Clark – Il Y A Tellement Des Filles
Stereo Total – Supergirl
Jacques Dutronc – Le Monde a L’Envers
Sarah
Pulp – Razzamataz

and the mp3 picks of the month are

~~Vicious Pink – CCCan't You See… (French extended mix)~~

[buy Vicious Pink: play.com | discogs.com]

~~Serge Gainsbourg – C’est La Cristallisation Comme Dit Standahl~~
[buy Anna OST: Amazon.fr]

~~Black Box Recorder – These Are The Things~~

[buy Black Box Recorder: iTunes | Amazon.uk]

~~Stereo Total – Kusse Aus Der Holle Der Musik~~

[buy Stereo Total: iTunes | Risi-Bisi Popshop]

setlist 27 Feb 2010

2010-06-24T18:47:00.012+01:00

We're a bit behind with the setlists, but here is February's for all you trainspotters out there

Verity
Pierre Barouh et Nicole Croisille - Un Homme et Une Femme
Air – Remember
Depeche Mode – See You
Serge Gainsbourg et Brigitte Bardot – Bonnie & Clyde
Eurythmics – Tous Les Garçons et Les Filles
Deux – Game + Performance
Godzuki – Contact
Add N To (X) – The Black Regent
Dominic
Boy From Brazil – Le Claquer Des Doigts
Virginie – Tu Crois Toujours
The Passions – I’m In Love With A German Film Star
Lightspeed Champion – 69 Année Erotique
Stereo Total – Joe Le Taxi
Fad Gadget – Fireside Favourite (I Monster Toasted Crumpet remix)
Japan – Quiet Life
Michel Legrand – Digue Ding Ding
Françoise Hardy – You Just Have To Say The Word
Dessous Chics – Garçon Façile
Sarah
Farah – Law Of Life
Glass Candy – Geto Boys
Les Georges Leningrad – Supa Doopa
Yacht – I’m In Love With A Ripper
Stereo Total – Tas De Tôle
Jacques Dutronc – Les Cactus
Verity
Françoise Hardy – Les Petits Garçons
Mareva Galanter – Les Filles C’est Faites Pour Faire L’Amour
OMD – Electricity
Divine Comedy – Europop
Jon & Vangelis – Back To School
Stasi – How Sleazy Do You Want It?
Michel Polnareff – Chère Veronique
Stereo Total – Comme Un Garçon
Denim – Snakebite
Dominic
Jacques Brel – Jacky
Manon Labrie – Pour Mon Anniversaire Je Voudrais Un Beatle
Les Problèmes – Pop Jerk
Les Chevelles – Ton Ombre Me Suit
Bourvil et Jacqueline Maillan – Ça
Michèle et Ses Wouaps – Dam Dam
Nicole et Frédéric – Dans L’Année 2525
Claude François – Eloise
Neon Neon – Neon Theme
Soft Cell – Bedsitter
Eddie Constantine – Hey Mr Caution
Sven Libaek – Solar Flares
Nino Nardini – Catch That Man
Charlotte Gainsbourg – IRM
Sarah
Devo – The Day My Baby Gave Me A Surprise
Brigitte Bardot – Je Reviendrai Toujours Vers Toi
Sylvie Vartan – Irrésistiblement
Roxy Music – Out Of The Blue
The Associates – Club Country
John Foxx – Burning Car
Soft Cell – Secret Life
Pulp - Separations
Verity
France Gall – Cet Air La
Magnetic Fields – Save A Secret For The Moon
Pet Shop Boys – Opportunities
Goldfrapp- Train
Jean-Michel Jarre – Magnetic Fields pt 4
Françoise Hardy – Je Veux Qu’il Revienne
Jacques Dutronc – Fais Pas Çi, Fais Pas Ça
Stereolab – Cosmic Country Noir
Dominic
Les Bel-Air – Ils Parlaient Dans Mon Dos
Gillian Hills – Je Reviens Vers Le Bonheur
Françoise Hardy – Je Pense á Lui
Les Gams – Il á le Truc
Stereo Total – Ne M’apelle Pas Ta Biche
Les Soundtrack – Ce Soir C’est Ma Fête
Add N To (X) – Adding N To X
Mathematiques Moderne – Disco Rough
The Art Of Noise – Close To The Edit
Pixelh8 – Girl Fight
Stereo Total – Musique Automatique
Pussycat – Aucune Fille Au Monde
Delphine – La Fermeture Éclair
Sarah
Sebastien Tellier – Sexual Sportswear
Clor – Good Stuff
Bat For Lashes – Glass
Tom tom Club – Genius Of Love
The Chap – Heart Throbs
Luke Haines – Off My Rocker At The Art School Bop
Verity
Pulp – Styloroc
The Normal – Warm Leatherette
Future Bible Heroes – I’m A Vampire
Dominic
Stereo Total – Supergirl
Jacques Dutronc – Sur Une Nappe De Restaurant
Les Shades – Orage Mecanique
We Are Enfant Terrible – Snap Dragon
Ronnie Bird – Chante
Phil Lynnot & Midge Ure – Yellow Pearl
The Chalets – Love Punch
Simon Bookish – Terry Riley Disco
Sarah
A-Ha – Scoundrel Days
Serge Gainsbourg – Dr Jeckyll et Mr Hyde
France Gall – Zoï Zoï
Christie Laume – Rouge Rouge
Ultravox – Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
Verity
Françoise Hardy – Et Même
Michel Polnareff – Dans La Maison Vide
The Knife – You Take My Breath Away
Dominic
Isabelle – Amstramgram
Gillian Hills – Tu Mens
Brezel Göring – Ich Bin So Süchtig
Sarah
Dauerfisch – So Gut
Stereo Total – Komplex Mit Dem Sex
Dominic
Nouvelle Vague – Too Drunk To Fuck
Sarah
Soft Cell - Memorabilia

and our mp3 picks of the month

~~Virginie – Tu Crois Toujours~~

[buy Virginie on Pop A Paris vol.4: amazon.fr]

~~Les Georges Leningrad – Supa Doopa~~

[buy Les Georges Leningrad: Alien8 Recordings | amazon.uk]

~~Stereolab – Cosmic Country Noir~~

[buy Stereolab: Rough Trade | amazon.uk]

Stereo Total! In London! Tomorrow Nite!

2010-06-09T17:39:00.005+01:00

Yes, our favourite purveyors of Franco-German lo-fi/8-bit/rockabilly/bubblegum/chanson are back in the UK for a one-off show tomorrow night!

STEREO TOTAL l.i.v.e! at 93 Feet East, 150 Brick Lane, E1 6QL
7.30pm - 11.00pm
you can buy tickets here
Support comes from The Notes, and the intriguingly named French For Cartridge.

You may remember my report from the last time ST played in London and I ended up in a L'Amour a Trois dry-hump onstage. You may also remember my relief that there didn't seem to be any documentation of my cameo appearance. Well, the situation has now changed [I must say I look quite happy to be there, in an embarrassed kind of way].

Stereo Total have a new album out. As you can see, it is called Baby Ouh! And you know what? We still haven't heard it at L'Amour Electronique HQ. Shame on us. We will hopefully rectify that situation at the gig.

rendez-vous with French Cinema

2010-06-07T22:39:00.007+01:00

This week, London's Institut Francais presents a Rendez-vous with French Cinema. It Starts tomorrow, when they will show what must be the debut UK screening of Gainsbourg: Vie Heroique at the Curzon Soho. I can't make it myself, but I did get a sneak preview of the film and it's definitely been worth waiting for. I'm in London on Friday so the new print of Breathless (À bout de souffle) might be on the cards.

"The event dedicated to French cinema returns to London this June. A showcase of the crème of French films, this year’s Rendez-vous with French Cinema will take place from Tuesday 8 June to Friday 11 June, at London’s Curzon Soho and the Ciné Lumière, plus one special screening at the BFI Southbank. Six French films, representing the strength and rich diversity of French production, past and present, will be given special Gala screenings open to the public, ahead of their release by UK distributors. Directors, both the young and the renowned, will be present alongside up and coming actors and more established stars, to introduce their films and discuss them with the public at post-screening Q&As. So far confirmed to attend are actors Kristin Scott-Thomas, Louis-Ronan Choisy plus directors Radu Mihaileanu, François Ozon, Catherine Corsini and Joann Sfar."

Dim lights

screenings

Tuesday 8 June
6.15pm: GAINSBOURG @ Curzon Soho
9.00pm: LEAVING @ Curzon Soho

Wednesday 9 June
6.15pm: THE CONCERT @ Curzon Soho
9.00pm: THE REFUGE @ Curzon Soho

Thursday 10 June
6.20pm: WILD GRASS @ BFI South Bank
8.30pm: THE CONCERT @ Ciné Lumière

Friday 11 June
6.30pm: BREATHLESS: 50TH ANNIVERSARY @ Ciné Lumière

L'Amour Electronique: Saturday 22 May

2010-05-17T10:49:00.003+01:00

Salut! Apologies for the lack of posts of late - things have been a bit busy.

The next L'Amour Electronique is on Saturday 22 May.
We will be joined by special guest DJs Estelle and Didier who will almost certainly show us up because they are both French, and not just a bunch of amateur Francophiles or something!

Come along for 6 hours of the finest electronic sounds, synthesized pop and French bubblegum, freakbeat and ye-ye.

it all takes place from 9pm til 3am at The West Hill, 67 Buckingham Place, Brighton, BN1 3PQ.

It is Free Entry all night and if you need more persuading, see what The Guardian said by way of recommendation in our previous post.

Battle Of The Planets

2010-05-05T10:00:00.003+01:00

There's a been a small battle of the planets going on in the night sky this past month.

[image source]

Mars has been spoiling for a fight since December. You might have seen him up there, an orange-y little blot amongst the stars: Mars, Bringer of War, with an army of little green men always at hand, ready to board their UFOs and launch a Martian invasion.

[image source]

But then, sometime in March, Venus came to our salvation. I caught sight of her the other night, a blinding white thing she was, and she outshone everything in the sky except the man-in-the-moon: Venus, Bringer of Peace, our "sister planet", named after the Roman god of love and beauty and cloaked in swirling, brilliant white clouds.

So, it's Mars, 'The Red Planet' VERSUS Venus, 'The Evening Star'. But which is better? There's only one way to find out... FIGHT!!!!!!!!

Up pops Mercury, the Winged Messenger, to lend the serene Venus a hand. Together they will endeavour to protect us and halt the impending War of the Worlds...

Where's Richard Burton when you need him?

Let's settle this thing with a nice old cliché: "Little men are from Mars, girls are from Venus".

~~Jean-Jacques Perrey & Gershon Kingsley - The Little Man From Mars~~
~~Jean-Jacques Perrey & Gershon Kingsley - Girl From Venus~~
[buy Perrey & Kingsley: iTunes | Amazon.uk]

But as for Mercury, I'm afraid Mercury is going to feel a bit left out. I don't have a song for Mercury. Sorry Mister Mercury.

.................................................................................................
If you want to keep an eye out for those little men from Mars, or fancy gazing at the bright-white beauty of Venus, pay a visit to Jodrell Bank.