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January 10, 2000
April March's FRENCH MUSIC FOR BEGINNERS 101
So you want to dive deeply into French music but your knowledge is limited to the one or two Serge Gainsbourg or Francoise Hardy songs you have heard?
April March
Well, who better to guide you through the last 40 years of French sounds than the Chanteuse herself, April March. March, who's 1999 Chrominance Decoder blends ye-ye and contemporary cosmopolitan vibes with perfection, has been submerged in the gloriously unique sounds of French music for the past two decades, amassing a vast catalog of vinyl and cds ranging from the light poppy sounds of ye-ye to the strands of acid rock and psychedelia to perverse versions of folk, and all else that falls in the cracks. March has been kind enough to provide Check This Out! with a French Music Primer - a French Music For Beginners 101 syllabus. Read on. Class is in session, with comments provided by April March.
The Essentials:
Serge Gainsbourg: Histoire de Melody Nelson (Philips, 1971)
Considered his masterpiece in part due to the help of arranger Jean Claude Vanier. Subtle combination of acid rock/funk (French style) with fantasy string arrangements. (With Jane Birken).
Francoise Hardy: Viens (Flarenasch, 1971)
Her favorite album. Extremely heavy and beautiful, composed and arranged with a very mysterious Brazilian woman named Tuca.
France Gall: 1968 (Philips)
Pure French pop, incredibly inventive. Includes Gainsbourg songs composed for her. Most of the album is arranged by the brilliant David Whitaker (worked for Andrew Loog Oldham, arranged Stones, Kinks, Vashti and more recently Air, Saint Etienne, etc.) The remaining few tracks are with Gainsbourg's early period arranger (also a heavy) Alain Goraquer.
Brigitte Fontaine: Brigitte Fontaine est Folle (Saravah CD)
Brigitte Fontaine is often referred to as the female Rimbaud. This is another Jean Claude Vanier masterpiece. An unbeatable combination.
Michel Polnareff: Les Premiere Annees (Universal 3 CD Box Set 1966-72)
Michel Polnareff's CDs are so hard to come by because they're constantly being deleted, so you should just spring for this box set. "le bal des Laze" is his heavy hit, but there are tons of great songs on here. He's a hard one to describe, a bit eccentric but with a softer attack than Gainsbourg and leaning more toward very lush rock psychedelic or folk (French style of course, so not Dylanesque). Killer production.
Jacques Dutronc: Jacques Dutronc (Voque)
Jacques Dutronc has an unbeatable punk charisma. Francoise Hardy married him in the mid 60s and they're still together. He's often compared to Dylan but still he's more of a punk. The music is also more of a garage acid type thing. However he does venture into some strange production arenas than only a Frenchman would. His first album (Voque CLD 70130) includes "Et moi, Et moi, Et moi."
Francois De Roubaix: 10 ans de Musique de Film (Odeon)
This is the greatest film composer ever (in my opinion). Very heavy beautiful melodies, experimental production and super French. "Le Vieux Fusil" is incredible. You may also try and get Anthologie Vol. 1 (Playtime) but 10 ans de Musique de Film has all the hits. Contemporaries:
Etienne Charry: 36 Erreurs (Tricatel CD)
Very eccentric, inventive - great!
Valerie Lemercier: Chante (Tricatel/BMG)
Elegant, perverse. Valerie has a great voice in the style of Hardy or Fontaine. Great composition and production by Bertrand Burgalat. Lyrics by Valerie - really good ones.
My Old Sofa: l'etonnent (Defi jeures 472812345909)
This is in French and English. Great production. Kool songs. eccentric. To Watch Out For (to be released this spring):
Bertrand Burgalat: Nonza (Tricatel/Virgin)
This is Bertrand Burgalat's long awaited masterpiece. Burgalat is often mimicked but never topped. He is a true originator. My favorite contemporary composer and producer.
Michel Houellebecq: (Tricatel/EMI/Sony)
Michel Houellebecq is one of France's most celebrated writers. His novel Extension du domaine de la lutte is going to be published in the States this year under the title Whatever. He has already made a huge mark in the literary world everywhere else he has been published. So you'll be hearing about him a lot I'm sure in 2000. This CD he did with Burgalat. I have a tape of it, unfinished/unmixed and it is so intense I have to be careful not to get in an accident whenever I listen to it in my car - which is a lot. Further - 60s & 70s:
France Gall: Poupee de Son (Polydor 4-CD Box Set)
This really should be on the essentials list but it is a bit of an investment. It combines some of the most beautifully inventive, crazy, elegant French production, songwriting and arrangements of the 60s. I've probably listened to it a trillion times. There's nothing to compare it to. You should just buy it. If you've already invested in the essentials list you're in pretty deep. Keep swimming.
Francoise Hardy: Comment Te Dire Adieu (Virgin CD 1968), Francoise Hardy (BMG/Voque CD 74321380032), Francoise (BMG CD 74321380062 1966), Francoise (Guilde Internationale Disque LP SVS 2731)
There are other good ones but start with these. There are box sets also but these are great albums. She's the greatest. Anna: Bande Originale de la Comedie Musicale (Philips LP and CD)
Gainsbourg soundtrack with Anna Karina featured. Includes "Sous le Soleil." Great!
Chantal Kelly: Caribou (Philips)
One of my favorite songs of the universe. Great dark lyrics. Mellow with an incredible melody and driving guitars. Jacqueline Taieb: Jacqueline Taieb (RCA 1967 PC-1181 LP)
I'm running out of superlatives. This is another great one, but very hard to find. Serge Gainsbourg: Vol. 1 1958-60 (Philips 838 387.2), Vol. 2 1961-63 (Philips 838 388.2), Vol. 3 1963-64 (Philips 838 389.2), Vol. 4 (Philips), Vol. 5 (Philips), Vol. 6 1972-75 (Philips 838 392.2) - All six volumes also available as a Box Set; Les Classique de Gainsbourg (Decca CD 448556-2 PY 900)
I recommend all of these CDs in this set. His earlier period is jazzier. Volumes 4 and 5 are more the late 60s experimentalish acid, psychedelic, kind of - very hard to describe. It is entirely original. Volume 6 is the spottiest, but still has some songs worth having. Les classique de Gainsbourg is a collection of classical music pieces which inspired specific Gainsbourg songs - Dvorak, Brahms, Chapin, Grieg. It is great.
Serge Reggiani: Master Serie (Polygram 827 663-2)
Very old school, great, heavy.
Nino Ferrer: Le Sud
"Le Sud" is one of the most hauntingly great French songs from the early 70s. It appears as an obsession in Houellebecq's Extension du domaine de la lutte. There are a few compilations available with "Le Sud" on them.
Marie Laforet: Vol. 5 1966-68 (Magic CD 187522)
Great folkish with eccentric production. If you saw Purple Moon reissued a couple of years ago (the original of The Talented Mr. Ripley) Marie Laforet was the girl with the guitar - the female lead. Pierre Henry & Michel Colombier: Messe pour le temp Present (Philips)
Great early electronic mayhem -often sampled and remixed. If you buy the CD make sure you're getting an original version, not the remixes. Stella : Stella (Magic)
There are some great songs on this compilation, although the beginning is a little too ye-ye. Still she is a great punk of a lyricist. Chantal Goya: les annees 60s (Magic CD 187682)
Chantal Goya speaks to me but she doesn't to everyone. She has a very fragile voice and sometimes funny timing, which I find ultimately authentic and charming but I'm often a minority on this one. Rent Masculin Feminin by Godard. She stars in it as herself. It is a fucking incredible movie. You can judge for yourself but I bet you'll want this CD after you see that movie. Biguine: Valse et Mazurka Crèoles (1929-1940) (Fremeaux Associes)
Crèole and Haitian music that was popular in France during the 20s and 30s. This influenced Gainsbourg and many others. Fremeaux Associes phone 33143749024 fax 33143652422.
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