French Letter

Air: two Dublin shows in February

frenchletter@cluas.com — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The Olympia on 23 and 24 February 2010, for those who wanna snooze.

Two Door Cinema Club around France

frenchletter@cluas.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Co. Down and out in Paris and Lille and Nantes and Toulouse: the promising Bangor/Donaghdee trio pop up on the bill of a high profile show here this weekend - the first of a wave of Irish acts visiting the French capital in November.

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France's album prize 2009: shortlist

frenchletter@cluas.com — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT

This year's Prix Constantin field is dominated by safe-hands French male folk-pop - with a bit of variety coming from three Englishmen and a misogynistic rapper. Groan. But we still reckon that on 9 November the prize will go to one of the two ladies on the list.

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Plastiscines come unstuck

frenchletter@cluas.com — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Winsome, lose some: second album syndrome strikes the photogenic Paris punk-poppers. 'About Love' has all the signs of a band writing for the sake of it - tired, personality-free tracks that could have come from any guitar band with access to a photocopier.

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Serge Gainsbourg biopic: trailer

frenchletter@cluas.com — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

A first glimpse at Joann Sfar's 'Gainsbourg (Vie Heroique)', the forthcoming screen version of the life of France's greatest ever pop star. However, the film has been touched by tragedy.

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Pop francais goes to Hollywood!

frenchletter@cluas.com — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Just as Phoenix were rocking the east coast of America last month, over on the west coast a new festival showcased even more French artists. 'Ooh La L.A.' featured Cocoon, Sebastien Tellier, The Dø - and adopted Frenchman Gonzales.

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Kim: love, love '...Lee Doo'

frenchletter@cluas.com — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Our reigning Best French Album champ won't give up his title easily - 'Mary Lee Doo' takes the '80s electro-pop of its predecessor and adds a dreamy, romantic vibe.

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French football songs

frenchletter@cluas.com — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Using a high-tech decoding machine, your War Correspondent (Paris) has deciphered our footballing enemy's terrace songs. Love and jumping and counting to three, mostly. All together for Ireland: shinnafeenafall!

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Charlotte Gainsbourg: new track, album with Beck

frenchletter@cluas.com — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Revolution in the head: A brain scan provides the inspiration for the Beatles-y title track of the award-winning actress's new album, made with Beck. However, it's a poor song.

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A song for Domenech

frenchletter@cluas.com — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Somebody loves Raymond: The unpopular coach of France's national football team has found an unlikely supporter - the singer from a much-loved '80s French pop band. Here's Catherine Ringer with her song of love for the hapless trainer, "Je Kiffe Raymond".

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Arlt: Dublin show

frenchletter@cluas.com — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The French alt-folk duo on the bill of the CLUAS Gig of the Fortnight as support to Thinguma*jigsaw. (Make sure you catch Peter Delaney at the very start of the night.) From Arlt, here's 'De Haut En Bas'.

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Neil Hannon & Yann Tiersen, 'Life On Mars'

frenchletter@cluas.com — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

A rather special Franco-Irish duet from two guys who seem to pop up on this blog quite regularly, courtesy of our favourite French radio show.

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Lunamira

frenchletter@cluas.com — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Boy meets girl, shakes up a dour old demo and together they turn it into a dreamy pop song. We know little about them apart from the track, 'Quietly Burning', but that's all we need to know.

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Concerts in your home!

frenchletter@cluas.com — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The people behind the Takeaway Shows are now doing deliveries - Les Soirées de Poche feature well-known indie artists playing in some lucky Parisian's apartment. Here's our favourite so far, a fantastic double-bill of Andrew Bird and St Vincent.

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Brigitte Bardot, pop star

frenchletter@cluas.com — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The iconic French film star turns 75 soon. Though today she's more occupied with strident animal rights activism and controversial views on French Muslims, she has her place in pop history. From her celebrated singles with and by Serge Gainsbourg, here's the magnificent 'Bonnie And Clyde'.

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Emilie Simon: gorgeous double o' Bush

frenchletter@cluas.com — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Moments of pleasure: The photogenic French electro-pop auteur clearly shares our love for Kate Bush. You'll enjoy her new album 'The Big Machine' so much that you'll even forgive us for that excruciating title pun. Check out the video for first single 'Dreamland'.

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Emily Loizeau folks up

frenchletter@cluas.com — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The second album from one of our favourite French singers - a new rustic-folk direction that's long on campfire ambience but short on the sort of melodic craft that made her name. An okay album but not a great one, we're sorry to say.

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French number ones in the UK and Ireland

frenchletter@cluas.com — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:00:00 GMT

The premier league: a look at the songs from France that have topped the British and Irish charts. There's loads of table-quiz trivia, some controversy, the family secret of Daft Punk - and a roadtrip with Modjo.

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Diving With Andy

frenchletter@cluas.com — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:00:00 GMT

A gorgeous new album that harks back to classic '60s French pop - check out 'Sugar Sugar' from Diving With Andy.

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'Amelie', Montmartre and Yann Tiersen

frenchletter@cluas.com — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Absent friends: The much-loved movie that's closely associated with a famous Paris quarter and an evocative soundtrack by a gifted Breton musician. But did you know about the 'Amélie' soundtrack's twin, a wonderful album called 'L'Absente' that features Lisa Germano and our own Neil Hannon?

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