French Letter

The Economist on French rap

frenchletter@cluas.com — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The current edition of the respected political magazine features a piece on French rap and hip-hop. However, it's a poor article that ill-serves its subject. Here's why.

More...

Solidays review (3): Metronomy, Manu Chao, John & Jehn

frenchletter@cluas.com — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Electro-pop bands rock out. Local boy does good. We all get home okay.

More...

Solidays review (1): Hockey, Magistrates, The Do

frenchletter@cluas.com — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Puck fair: Day one of the Paris summer festival features an impressive show from Hockey and some irritating wackiness from an otherwise-likeable The Dø. But we don't remember promising to report on Yuksek and Digitalism, okay?

More...

Solidays review (2): Friendly Fires, Amadou & Mariam, The Virgins

frenchletter@cluas.com — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:00:00 GMT

A day of glorious pop, joyous Africana - and lovely folk. Allez la Diane!

More...

Irish Embassy of Rock, Paris

frenchletter@cluas.com — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The Irish College in Paris is home to the Centre Culturel Irlandais, which in turn has an excellent library that features all the essential Irish albums for any Parisian looking to learn about our tunes.

More...

Record stores in Paris (part 2)

frenchletter@cluas.com — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Rocking the Bastille: Two great record shops near a historic part of the French capital - one quite retro, the other very countercultural, both definitely worth a visit.

More...

Java: sex, accordions and rock n'roll

frenchletter@cluas.com — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Rap, punk, ska, traditional musette - it's all in the sound made by one of France's favourite live bands.

More...

Free music!

frenchletter@cluas.com — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The French government is trying to bring in a three-strikes law against illegal internet filesharing. They're not doing a great job of it, though. But what's Hadopi? Who are Lonah and Guarapita? And where can I hear Misty Socks playing their song 'Not A Wanker'?

More...

Let's French!

frenchletter@cluas.com — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Dublin's annual Fête de la Musique party takes place from 18-21 June, and includes cinema appearances by Serge & Jane, a tribute to France's most famous Belgian - and a concert by Housse De Racket.

More...

Bloomsday in Paris

frenchletter@cluas.com — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Oui: 'Ulysses', book of the day, may be the quintessential Dublin novel but it has a bit of Paris in it too - and plenty of music. Here's Kate Bush's homage to Molly Bloom.

More...

Naive New Beaters

frenchletter@cluas.com — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:00:00 GMT

To kick of Dublin celebrations for France's national music day later this month, the L.A.-loving Paris electro-pop-rap fellas will be playing at Twisted Pepper on 6 June.

More...

Phoenix: the great leap sideways

frenchletter@cluas.com — Tue, 26 May 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Ready, tame, fire: By taking no significant risk with their sound, the Versailles band's 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix' is a slight disappointment.

More...

Bell X1: big Paris show tonight

frenchletter@cluas.com — Wed, 13 May 2009 23:00:00 GMT

A high-profile headline slot at the Maroquinerie tonight, a prominent billing at Benicassim - the Kildare lads are slowly conquering France and the rest of mainland Europe.

More...

Solidays: Chao bella!

frenchletter@cluas.com — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Version 2009 of the annual Paris music/AIDS-awareness festival is definitely on in late June and certainly has a cracking programme: Manu Chao, Amadou and Mariam, Friendly Fires, Metronomy, The Virgins, Alela Diane, Cocoon and more. From the days of Mano Negra, here's Chao rocking round the clock with 'Out Of Time Man'.

More...

Europavox

frenchletter@cluas.com — Wed, 06 May 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The pan-continental pop, rock n'folk fest in Clermont Ferrand, featuring Bloc Party, Maximo Park, I'm From Barcelona, Loney Dear, Emily Loizeau, Vitalic, Declan de Barra... and Herman Dune.

More...

Pony Pony Run Run: nag-nifique!

frenchletter@cluas.com — Mon, 04 May 2009 23:00:00 GMT

My Lovely Horse: Coming up the rails on the far side, it’s the terrible name but gorgeous dancefloor-pop of Pony Pony Run Run and ‘Hey You’ - well worth a flutter.

More...

Underground Railroad: new tracks

frenchletter@cluas.com — Fri, 01 May 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Tunnel of love: another fine set of tunes from the UK-based French trio. Their 'Pick The Ghost' E.P. gives us more dark indie that's illuminated by the melodic flashes of Marion Andrau's voice.

More...

The Fleche: saved!

frenchletter@cluas.com — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:00:00 GMT

A reprieve of sorts for the famous Paris rock venue - new owners and remedial works will see La Flèche d'Or re-open in August. But will the new broom sweep out the old alt-rock spirit?

More...

'An American In Paris'

frenchletter@cluas.com — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 23:00:00 GMT

George Gershwin's other epic work, by way of Paris car salesmen, Gene Kelly and Kim Jong-Il. Here's the New York Philharmonic playing it at their historic 2008 Pyongyang performance. Watch out for those car horns!

More...

Eurockeennes 2009 (and new Phoenix song)

frenchletter@cluas.com — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Our annual round-up of festivals where you don't need rain gear or a bank loan begins with the trip to Belfort for France's most internationally-popular summer show. This year's line-up includes Kanye West, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Prodigy, Tricky, Birdy Nam Nam and French heroes Phoenix - from them, another new track and another classical composer namecheck.

More...