A week ago (July 1 – 3), the Malsaucy peninsula in Belfort, east France, played host to Les Eurockéennes, one of France’s most popular festivals. On the bill were bands from 11 different countries – you don’t get that at V – so in honour of our host country, NME decided to separate le bon grain from l’ivraie and take a look at the French acts playing…
GAËTAN ROUSSEL
The French… Bravery
The verdict: When it comes to food and fashion, the French are definitely more discerning than us English brutes. However, they’re not nearly as snobby about us when it comes to music genres – reggae, ska, and all manner of ropey pirate music are massive here. Whilst you might not want to bring Roussel’s clap-happy, Kaisers at their darkest, disco party home on the ferry, on a sunbeamy Saturday afternoon, their daft sense of humour and brazen cover of Talking Heads’ ‘Psychokiller’ go down a treat.
Will it translate? Peut-être
BIRDY NAM NAM
The French… Magnetic Man
The verdict: From the name, Birdy Nam Nam should be twee-as-fuck, hand-wringing until their fingers fall off; or a violence-inducing set of Hadouken! wannabes. It’s a pleasant surprise, then, to find that they’re actually thrashing Magnetic Man at their own game – where Skream, Benga and Artwork, fun as they are, will never be able to shake off the lingering rubbery tang of razzing around Somerfield carpark, Birdy Nam Nam serve their womp with welcome exotic curlicues and burbles that make their set more grin than grit.
Will it translate? Oui!
MORIARTY
The French… Mumford & Sons
The verdict: We have more than enough nervous looking frontwomen plying drippy folk in the UK, ta very much. Rosemary Standley and her band of merry men stand huddled in front of a pile of vintage suitcases (that is code for “we are authentic”, in case you didn’t guess), playing old folk standards with about as much gusto as Marcus Mumford blows his nose. Much like Raphael Saadiq, who plays the day before, Jools Holland would love them. A fine reason to steer clear.
Will it translate? Non
KATERINE
The French… Har Mar Superstar
The verdict: Why is it that, as soon as you dress up a creepy old man in fluoro legwarmers, tights, and a wipe-clean PVC skirt, he suddenly becomes 87.1% less threatening? Bonsoir, the grizzled Katérine, surprisingly one of France’s premier popstrels, and writer of hits for winners of Nouvelle Star (French Pop Idol). He has songs with names like ‘I Like Your Bumcheeks’ (“J’aime tes fesses”), and lyrical opening gambits such as, “Sorry, I just came in your hair.” He’s part kids’ entertainer Mr Tumble with Har Mar’s libido and the wryness of early Serge Gainsbourg, with one song that ponders his thinking matter when about to jizz: his grandmother and the President’s Independence Day speech. Dude, we’ve all been there.
Will it translate? With subtitles, maybe. On Eurovision, douze points!
THE DØ
The French… Tune-Yards
The verdict: Somehow, The Dø’s 2008 record ‘A Mouthful’ ended up on our shelves, and a charming album it was too – wonky, bass-heavy pop led by the pleading vocals of Olivia Merilahti (who’s actually Finnish). Live, however, it works best when Merilahti plays down the damsel in distress role in favour of theatrical darkness, as on ‘Slippery Slope’ – as she gropes at thin air, massive tribal drums and droning horns envelop her like cartoon smoke in a Disney film, reminding NME of Tune-Yards’ creepy sonic carnivals.
Will it translate? Bien sûr