Tag Archive for Europop

10th October 2012

Björk – Play Dead

I am an unashamedly massive Björk fan. She is my favourite non-Motown female vocalist. Beyond that she seems like the kind of person I would like to have a beer with. While that’s not a particularly important quality for me when I think about music, it’s a plus. I imagine that it certainly wouldn’t be a boring evening!
This gem is taken off her first album Debut, which I can’t believe is nearly 20 years old (I am sure I still have the cassette which I stole off my Dad somewhere)! It is typical of her work in that it has a soaring urgency that I find utterly compelling.
/RjK old – Play Dead

26th June 2012

MC Solaar* – Les temps changent

MC Solaar is a French rapper and this track is taken from the 1997 album Paradisiaque. I try not to be too esoteric in my choices and I am aware that this might seem to be a little far out. It was the first song that really made me realise that for me a strong hook (in this case I think it is spectacular) is as important as finding meaning in lyrics (not a clue, my GCSE French can’t quite cope!) 

Les temps changent…

Tramshed was excellent last night. The food was simple but full of flavour. Very hip decor and a great space (see below).

RjK

*Artist #470

25th June 2012

Miike Snow* – Devil’s Work

As the half-year approaches I have been reading a few “Best of 2012 so far” lists (as well as trying to compile my own). These guys showed up on a couple of lists and I quite enjoyed this track.
They are a Swedish band, and not in fact a singer that was born Michael Snow. Those crazy Swedes! The track has a classic Euro-electro sound that has been quite prominent of late (see M83, Air France, Delorean etc..).
I’m out for dinner for a friend’s birthday this evening. We are going to a restaurant that only serves Chicken and Steak. Think I might give the meat cocktail a miss though. I will report back tomorrow.
RjK
*Artist #469

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When saints go machine* – Kelly

This is so infectious. It has been crawling over my brain all weekend, in a good way.
When The Saints go machine are a fairly new Danish band. Somehow when I found out they were Scandinavian I wasn’t surprised. They have a slightly esoteric, synth-heavy sound that seems to be typical of a lot of music from there I have heard recently. Something about them reminds me of Icelandic band FM Belfast who I posted last year.
RjK
*Artist #443


Sébastien Tellier* – La Ritournelle


It sure doesn’t feel like the 1st day of May in London! I was greeted to a deluge of near biblical proportions this morning as I stepped out the door to work. Jackpot.
Giles Peterson’s played this on his 6music show on Saturday. He was interviewing legendary Nigerian afrobeat drummer Tony Allen, who features on the track.
It was a blast from the past as I listened to it a lot at university but had largely forgotten it. It is strange how only Europeans can get away with singing lyrics that are somewhat banal yet make them sound mystical!
Sébastien Tellier seems like an interesting cat. He went from producing this, which I happen to think is pretty great, to representing France in (the kitsch-fest known as) The Eurovision. This makes it a little tough for me to take him seriously. A little like Stevie Wonder syndrome, should sins in his later career diminish an earlier, great song? He does get plus points for his prodigious beard though.
/RjK
*Artist #433

Me and My Drummer* – Runner (Reprise)


I don’t know much about these guys beyond the fact that they are German and I hadn’t heard them before the past couple weeks.

This is very enjoyable even if it flirts with being overly maudlin. It has a somber power that I find quite striking and the ambiance fitted in well with my downbeat mood caused by the wretched weather in London this week. 

/RjK

*Artist #424

Aside

Napoleon – I love my baby (but if anyone touches her I’ll kill them)

Swedish band Napoleon were one of the very first that I posted at the start of last year. This was because they were favourites from 2009 and 10 when the blog was just an idea fermenting in my head.

I really like their energy and sense of fun. It is difficult to listen to them and not smile. This is taken from the wonderfully named Bohemians won the series and the little guy joined the band. The album title alone is enough to like them! 

RjK

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Sigur Rós – Samskeyti

Sigur Rós are Icelandic chill out heroes. As usual, I was striving for something soothing for Sunday night and this did the trick. It is taken from their splendid, if esoterically named () album.

London has been somewhat arctic over the past week and especially the last 24 hours. I walked home last night through the first big snow storm of the winter. Somehow, not having to get up and brave it on my way to work the next morning made it a lot more tolerable.

RjK

Aside

The Knife* – Heartbeats

I heard this song over and over when I was at university and came to really like it. It has a slightly quirky sound that grew on me.

The Knife are a Swedish band and came into my mind tangentially after I went to see The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo last week. I enjoyed the movie but was a little taken aback at it’s jarring darkness. I had never read the books or seen the Swedish language version so was totally unprepared. Story of my life. The scenery kind of made me want to take a train to northern Sweden though. 

RjK

*Artist #368

Aside

StewRat – Disagreements

Terrible band name, pretty good song. It’s smooth and funky (I think I can hear a Barry White sample somewhere in there). I think these guys are French but otherwise I know almost nothing about them. They were suggested by a good buddy and I couldn’t resist the beat.

RjK