Crème de la Crème

You’ve got to hand it to the French; they’re renowned for being chic, sophisticated and suave, and now they’re pretty much on their way to musical domination. The French music scene is becoming so increasingly vibrant that even our own British Bands such as Two Door Cinema Club are hopping on a ferry, crossing the border, and signing over to Kitsuné Maison; the music/fashion/entrepreneurial label that rivals our home-grown labels with its playful yet pioneering ethos. We’ve all heard of the successes of major French bands, in particular dance acts such as Daft Punk who, despite selling an album out recently to Disney licensing (Quelle Horreur), are a duo with a back catalogue of prime cut electronica that is debatably some of the most influential dance music, ever. Also Justice, whose album ‘Cross’ was celebrated across the world, but were so overly à la mode in 2008 that their song ‘D.A.N.C.E’ was constantly overplayed to a degree that it regressed from a Swan to an Ugly Duckling and repeatedly reared its head at every party in an increasing annoyance to even the most hard-core of fans (personal experience as I recall). But it’s the new string of French musical genius that intrigues me the most; with the recent ‘Parisien’ release from Kitsuné Maison unveiling a host of exhilirating acts.

Take Valley for instance, taken from ‘Kitsuné Parisien’, their interweaving melodies mixed with scattered drum beats are reminiscent of Foals, but with the addition of button-cute French accents. Very much like Phoenix, they take the conventional indie band and add a quality of chic to it that leaves you singing along to a chorus far from generic, one that incorporates progression and talent. It’s definitely been thought about, not just slurred together so that drunken festival go-ers have something they can vaguely sing along to before passing out.

Valley – ’1999′

We Were Evergreen are like the Michael Cera of the French music world; a little bit nerdy, a little bit awkward but still geeky-cool. “I will ask you again, sing along if you can”: the lyrics may be more at the shallow end, far from the brooding Edward-Cullen inspired tones that adolescents love so much à ce moment, but there’s no denying it’s a summer-styled song to fall in love with when life is indeed ‘belle’.

We Were Evergreen – ‘Penguins and Moonboats’

My favourite part of French music is definitely its huge electro following. Ed Banger Records have never failed to deliver and their electro music oozes refinement. I can’t tell you how sick I am of the dominant form of electronica in this country being ‘dubby-wub-wub’, change the tune, literally. SebAstian is a perfect example of why French electronica is just so cool. Similar to Justice and just as heavy, in ‘Eno’ the organ tones subtly undermine the contrasted and often clichéd bass drop creating intricacy in repetition. Taken from the latest Ed Banger volume, it sits amongst the likes of Mr.Oizo (Monsieur Oizo en francais) and Uffie – the most effortlessy cool female since Karen O. Also, it’s not full of those bloody wah-wahs… oh boo-hoo.

So please, if you haven’t already, open your eyes and ears to La Culture de France and step away from the border (not literally, I don’t want to be held responsible for any physical harm that I have seemingly endorsed), au reviour to prejudices and make French music your sounds du jour. It might even be educational.