my essential music of 2013
below you will find my list of my music of the year
happy new year everyone and thanks for all your comments, emails, photos, cd's, support and encouragement. your appreciation and shared enjoyment make blogging (still, after 9 years) a pleasure!
:)
so here's the list (in no particular order!) - please let me know what you think!
mordi xxx
SAY LOU LOU
i'm sure you know by now i have a soft spot for the swedes and 2013 was no exception. say lou lou have taken electropop to an elctroeerie level, with haunting melodies twinned with emotional heartache. no album as yet, but there are 6 songs out there to discover - each one a gem.
'beloved' is in heavy rotation in my house. check out the video for 'better in the dark ' - it's like david lynch does vogue magazine.
Labels: say lou lou
ALBIN DE LA SIMONE - UN HOMME
for a male singer to feature on my blog - it's got to be better than good - it has to be amazing. and this album certainly is. gorgeous tunes and wonderful production ensured that it is probably the most played album in my house over 2013.
watch this great video - a duet with emiliana torrini
Labels: albin de la simone
ANNIE - A & R e.p.
more scandipop- but this time she's norwegian! annie has been round almost 10 years, every now again releasing some great pop tunes - often with the help of writer/producer richard x. this year she was back with a late 80's early 90s bang! the cover art should already give you a huge clue to the influences on the e.p. - think break 4 love, snap! s/a/w and house music. little boots and hannah robinson are in the writing credits too so you just know this is going to be a good one! if you include 'tube stops and lonely hearts' and 'take a look at the world' - 2 songs she released separately this year then you have 7 great songs to dance to. don't make us wait so long for the new e.p. annie - please!
just check out the video - a great flashback intro...
Labels: annie
SALLY SHAPIRO - SOMEWHERE ELSE
ok, so we have my 3 favourite genres included in the list now (french, scandi and now italo-disco (which is also scandi btw!)). i was a bit concerned when sally returned - the first release 'what can i do' wasn't as italo-disco-y as i'd been hoping for - but it grew on me- then the album came and WOW! - it was great. it moved slightly away from a direct italodisco sound to blend more 80s stylings but with the added bonus of other 80s influenced acts like electric youth (love them too) and le prix. johan agebjorn (who is one half of the sally shapiro duo) is a genius. still loving this album now.
Labels: sally shapiro
VANESSA PARADIS - LOVE SONGS
this is my fave female french album this year. a double album too - what a feast! she sounds great - the best she's ever sounded. much of the credit has to go to benjamin biolay and mathieu boogaerts for their brilliant songs.
Labels: vanessa paradis
FRIDA SUNDEMO
an album that is only available in japan (c'mon frida, sort that out!) but an e.p. and a total of at least 9 songs knocking about. again, a swede (see, told you!) - electropop that is more than just pop. she writes fantastically inspiring lyrics, has great hooks and top production. really cool videos too - sparse, simple and as far away from 'pop' as you can get.
Labels: frida sundemo
ALEX BEAUPAIN - APRES MOI LE DELUGE
i love alex - his songs are full of emotion and i can play them over and over again.
he never lets me down. good stuff!
Labels: alex beaupain
AUSTRA - OLYMPIA
at times like an electro-nico - combining a uniquely expressive voice backed by stark dance beats.
great really, really loud
Labels: austra
ALKA - LA PREMIER FOIS
here's an edited version of the review i wrote for
filles sourires: benjamin biolay has his hands all over the album, writing and producing the majority of it. alkas breathy voice is very reminiscent of 70s jane birkin or 80s isabelle adjani – essentially that means breathy, almost orgasmic. at times it sounds like it could actually be a serge and jane lost classic. as well as the more obvious comparisons to the gainsbourg girls – the album sounds current- there’s a sedated electronica vibe, so it feels fresh yet familiar. the final track is a cover of france galls 'les gen bien eleves' ’ – very cute and a great way to end her first album. if you like her – and let’s be honest, what’s not to like here? i’d definitely recommend seeking out a song not featured on the album called 'affaire classee' that she recorded with chateau marmont.
Labels: alka
honourable mentions go to.....
little boots - nocturnes like a kylie album that never was (because it wasn't just quite up to scratch)
chvrches - the bones of what you believe solid, scottish synthpop
molly drake - molly drake nicks mum is revealed as a melancholy, sweet and curious talent
sky ferreira - night time,my time half of this album is amazing - think blondie/peaches. surely the best (and most provocative) cover of the year too thanks to gaspar noe
amelia lily no album (yet?) but a handful of excellent songs worthy of the much missed girls aloud
rose - et puis juin berry-esque laid back tunes from this cool french lady
charli xcx - true romance really i should blame her for the demise of icona pop (she wrote i love it) but this album teased me, letting me discover there was more and better to come...
italo disco i've really got into it big time this year - old skool and nu italo - simply marvy
sandra - stay in touch a slightly cheesy flashback to 80s italo/euro disco
dim dam doll
HAPPY CHRISTMAS !
have a marvy time - and i'll be back with my best of 2013 year list shortly
Labels: france gall, french 60s, video
mad world
i love how pussycat is introduced on this clip! enjoy this psyched out pussycat and her trippy big wig.
Labels: french 60s, pussycat, video
no problem
as you know, karine has really grown on me over the past year - so here's another of her tracks - again on the vogue label (surely if you find any vinyl with a female singer on the cover and it's on the vogue label- its worth buying!), from 1966
Labels: french 60s, karine
the story of adele
loving the barclay guitar
Labels: adele, french 60s
50 shades of gris
ohmygod- i love this so much - it is soooooooo sad. such a beautiful song.
how long will we have to wait for another album melanie?
Labels: french 10s, melanie laurent
