April 24, 2007 | Posted by Blair at 5:00 PM

I <3 France

Charlotte Gainsbourg - The Songs That We Sing

OK, OK. I know a lot of people have already heard all about how awesome Charlotte Gainsbourg is, how she's THE Gainsbourg daughter (Serge and Jane Birkin), an accomplished actor with 30+ films under her belt (you saw 'The Science of Sleep' right?), well known in her native France (been making music since she was 13), etc.

But forget that for a sec and listen to the music. Her latest album, 5:55, is a real gem of delicate, indie-pop that is itself a star-studded affair. The record is produced by Nigel Godrich, the music is written and played by Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel (of Air), with contributions by drummer Tony Allen; Jarvis Cocker, Neil Hannon and Charlotte Gainsbourg wrote the lyrics, and David Campbell composed the string arrangements. Essentially, having any one of these folks be a part of your record would make it pretty special, but all of them together is a modern musical juggernaut.

5:55 has been out there for a bit, having been released by Because Music last autumn in France, but it took our friends at Vice Recordings to bring it to the US. Like a lot of us lately, Vice seems to have a bit of, how do you say, 'fascination' with the French music scene, as they're also responsible for putting out the Ed Banger crew records in the US, so you should thank them.

Where was I? Oh, right: the album is good! Seriously good. If you like breathy vocals, Air's most recent album, and Jarvis Cocker's darkness-soaked lyricism, then 5:55 should be a no-brainer. It is out today, and available wherever records are sold, including iTunes.

Recommended, especially the title-track, "Jamais" and "The Operation" - also check out the video for this song over here.

Comments

VICE is kinda like Astralwerks was for electronic music releases in the USA late 90's early 2000's I think maybe sort...

I love air and I love her

Posted by: guy smiley at April 24, 2007 8:04 PM

Guy - yeah, kind of, except that Vice Recs are more into noise, punk and and random stuff than Astralwerks was - the Boredoms? Black Lips?

Posted by: robot Blair at April 24, 2007 8:18 PM

yeah, but I mean like not looking at a specific genre per say or style but like a "movement" if you will.. in the usa..because after that time the electronic music from europe kind of fizzled in the USA...commercially..it was hot for a while...of course other music contributed other than french on that label like big dogs fatboy chemical brothers etc. ..im fairly wrong yet kind of right. back then it was more mainstream for a few years, I guess and therefore viable to market...and so while it was fresh to someone like me, it was "new" and "buzzy" so an easier sell? now it's kind of a boutique "tastemaker" BLAH sell with VICE. BUT Justice could change that I suppose, although they aren't exactly in the least fatboy slim and fatboy slim isn't french. they have yet to release a full album so to say they won't make something that hits the USA like a mother F@cking freight-train is not advisable considering Daft Punk had Homewerk then..DISCOVERY?? who would have thought. but I will say I remember hearing Da Funk at a shitty f@cking sports bar one time and I danced like a mother scratcher...so would I hear any JUSTICE songs at a shitty american sports bar? I'll wait until they license a full length on Virgin/EMI to find out. wait...if they release EPs on VICE does that mean they wouldn't release on Virgin. because that's astralwerks. right? Who owns VICE?

and yeah VICE does more weird stuff. so im wrong. I think this is the same way politicians certain string logic together sometimes. bible thumpers do this pretty good too. but they don't admit they're wrong.

well...VICE is doing a good job and so I'm happy. go france. go air. go justice. go vice. go astralwerks too even. ra ra ra.

Posted by: happy guy at April 24, 2007 11:11 PM

I love Lamps!

Posted by: (^_^) at April 25, 2007 10:27 AM

VICE is releasing the Justice LP on July 10. It's called †.

Posted by: cheeks at April 25, 2007 3:44 PM

good track... will check out the rest

Posted by: scott at April 25, 2007 11:53 PM

Ed Banger Records has been pioneering great electronic and dance music for years now and it's about time an american label like VICE caught on. Uffie needs to be their next signinig, chick is bad, but lets not forget to give credit where it's due- Mr. Oizo can produce sharp clean hip hop music better than most, even here in the states.

Posted by: Crayola at May 1, 2007 9:19 PM

Ed Banger Records has been pioneering great electronic and dance music for years now and it's about time an american label like VICE caught on. Uffie needs to be their next signinig, chick is bad, but lets not forget to give credit where it's due- Mr. Oizo can produce sharp clean hip hop music better than most, even here in the states.

Posted by: Crayola at May 1, 2007 9:20 PM

Ed Banger Records has been pioneering great electronic and dance music for years now and it's about time an american label like VICE caught on. Uffie needs to be their next signinig, chick is bad, but lets not forget to give credit where it's due- Mr. Oizo can produce sharp clean hip hop music better than most, even here in the states.

Posted by: Crayola at May 1, 2007 9:21 PM
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