TOP 5 BEST ALBUMS OF 2011!!!

1. FEIST. Metals
A little depression and a big broken heart seem to have inspired Feist's best work this year! Very textured, poetic and intimate, I keep playing this album over and over. Although I do appreciate some of her past work, I wasn't a big fan of Feist prior to "Metals". Well, now I am. Here is her sad rendition of "Bittersweet melodies".
Highlights: "The bad in each other", "Gravyard", "Caught a long wind", "Bittersweet melodies", "Comfort me"...and all the other songs in between. lol


2. RAVEONETTES. Raven in the grave
Very moody, atmospheric, minimal yet intense in emotions and distortion. The music speaks for itself! If you like this album, make sure to look into the band's excellent discography as well.
Highlights: "Recharge & revolt", "War in heaven", "Apparitions" and "Evil seeds".


3. RADIOHEAD. Kind of limbs
Well, I must admit that I am, like many, a very big fan of Radiohead. As usual, this album is quite trippy & very contemporary; full of tricky layers of syncopaded beats, piano and backvocals. For some, it might take a few listening sessions to appreciate the full quality of this album.
It is most impressive to see the band deliver these intricate songs live...!!!
Highlights: "Bloom", "Lotus flower", "Codex" and "Give up the ghost".


4. LYKKE LI. Wounded Rhymes
I'm gonna let Lykke Li talk about her great album herself...on the link below. ;-)
Highlights: "I follow rivers", "Get some", "Rich kids blues" and "Sadness is a blessing"


5. SCRATCH MASSIVE. Nuit de rêve
Think Vive la fête vs Bronski Beat with a darker atmospheric edge. Everyone can notice the strong 80s influence of this electronic DJ duo from Paris, particularly on this album. This is their first coherent album in my point of view. Their sound is more polished and contained in comparison to their more experimental past work.
Highlights: "Pleine lune", "Take me there (feat. Jimmy Somerville)" and "Nuit de mes rêves"

LANA DEL REY. Sensual muse for the sad souls

I'm presently working on my own live interpretation of Lara's upcoming album opening song "Born to die". The full-lenght will be released on Jan.31st and features her (already) classic tracks "Video Games" and "Blue Jeans" (worth looking these songs up if you never heard of the american chanteuse before).
My curiosity about her has led me to find an album she released in 2008 before pulling it out of the shelves recently. Most of the album doesn't at all compare to the quality of her music today, except for a few little treasures; like "Yayo", a sexy love song which reminds me of Marilyn Monroe.

LANA DEL REY. Yayo

NALEPA...or the fresh sound of your lover's acid tears!

Hard to get an hand on this NALEPA character from L.A....the bio I found reads more like a CV than anything. No idea where his talent for melancholic sexy moods really come from. But I assure you, inspired and inspiring his music is! Trippy too.

PROFESSOR NALEPA vs IT'S NOT OVER QUEBEC. "Ripple"


If you like this...check out this excellent remix on their MYSPACE:
AND THE RADIO PLAYED ON ( Nalepa remix )

THE KILLS are not dead yet!

Great new video from THE KILLS just came out 2 days ago for "Satellite"!

The song is slowly growing on me, but I'm not super thrilled about it so far. Still, the level of my expectation was very high after their 2 previous excellent albums "No wow" and "Midnight Boom"...which are a "must" in every sexy indie rocker's collection!

Can't wait to hear the full album "Blood pressures" out this April 5th. I do looove the excerpt of the new song in the album teaser though!!! :-P

THE KILLS. "Blood pressures" Album Teaser


THE KILLS. "Satellite"

LYKKE LI: The dark and artsy lounge goddess is back!

Most of you have heard about Lykke Li and her excellent expanding repertoire. Already three new songs are circulating on the web and all of them are brilliant! Darker, more tribal, raw yet still very melodic. 

These links should have you join us in anticipation of her 2nd album "Wounded Rhymes" out on March 1st. She's quite something!

Got my ticket to see her live in Montreal on May 21st!!! Excited. 

LYKKE LI. "Untitled"


LYKKE LI. "I follow rivers"


LYKKE LI. "Get some"

120 DAYS and their new indie-disco-ride!

Four years after their last release, 120 DAYS is finally back...it seems. No news on their myspace or even official website about a new album on its way, although I've read that half of their new album is ready ( kind of like us! ). But the big news is that a new song has hit ITUNES this week, the instrumental 10-minute indie-disco-trippy ride of "Dale Disco".

I discovered this fantastic band from Norway only last year, although they have been around for a decade already! Most of their music still sounds great today, it's worth looking into it. Mostly because their frontman has a really great voice as well...

Also listen to songs: "Sleepwalking", "Come out, come down, Fade out, Be gone" and "Get away".

120 DAYS. "Dale Disco"
Dale Disco - 120 Days by Up Front Artists

Congratulations MGMT!

You might have seen this video from MGMT as it's been out there for a while now. For myself, I just fell on it today. For some, it might be a pretty ridiculous few minutes, but I find it rather touching and I LOVED the ending. That dried up creature was so adorable too...héhé.

Death is a subject that fascinates me! I've written a song about it on our upcoming album. And although I do believe that what comes after it must be pretty amazing...most of the time, the "transition to it" is scary. 
Cute video in metaphore to this!

MGMT. Congratulations

Music made in dreams: TAMARYN

I don't know if it is age or just a saturation from all that empty-soul electro that is blasting everywhere ( can pop music go any lower musically then the new Black Eyed Peas or Britney Spears?! How awful can music get??! Wow. ) but my ears get the most satisfaction out of music like TAMARYN's first album, which came out last fall.

Very hypnotic and dreamy songs again. Simple and pure with a dark touch...of course. Perfect on this white sunday winter afternoon.

TAMARYN. Love fade

TOP 5 ALBUMS of 2010!!!

Ok, I'm back everyone!!! 

Be happy that I'm busy composing, recording and producing our 2nd album...which I want in YOUR Top 5 of 2011! It's a lot of work and I love it. Starting to get back in shape to hit the stage soon as well...WARRRGGHHH!

I promise to come here at least once or twice a month to let you know about my new discoveries, so make sure to visit often.

Ok, let's go!!!

#5 BEACHHOUSE. Teen Dream

Who can't enjoy some very easy-listening, poetic, uplifting indie rock with beautiful androgynous vocals ( I was sure that the lead vocalist was a man...oups )?! Perfect contrast with the hardcore speed of 2010.   

Great album for relaxing at home with friends or taking it slow on a rainy summer afternoon. No songs to skip, very fluid atmosphere. Here is my favorite track taken from the album:

BEACHHOUSE "Norway"

#4 MASSIVE ATTACK. Heligoland

Fantastic yet apocalyptic lyrics over electro minimalistic orchestrations. Violins and keyboards building-up on dark rhythms...very Massive Attack, very 2010!

Great album with a few magnificent highlights such has "Girl, I love you", "Atlas air" and the sexiest song of 2010, "Paradise Circus" ( in its original version and remixed version which I could listen to forever, and ever, and ever, and ever, and.... ) :

MASSIVE ATTACK. Paradise Circus ( Gui Boratto remix )



#3 UNKLE. Where did the night fall?

An album filled with incredible vocalists and very haunting songs. Amazing production where analog electronic sounds meet violins and brass. Breathtaking and dramatic at times. These guys are IT!!!

The most underrated, almost unknown, release of 2010 in my point of view. At times "Joy divionesque" and even "Björkish".

UNKLE. "Natural selection"

#2 ARCADE FIRE. The suburbs

Well, well, well. If I need to introduce you to "Arcade Fire", where have you been?! Every album they release is incredible from beginning to end...and the songs shine even more live! As usual on this new release, more heartfelt political and poetic songs delivered with a driven passion.
Breathtaking talent, inspired songwriting, I like to call them the "Radiohead" of this decade. A must in your collection.
And they are from Montreal = SUPPORT AND BUY!!! :-)

ARCADE FIRE. "Ready to start ( live )"

#1 WILD NOTHING. Gemini

I fell in love with this band when I heard the first few notes of the song "The witching hour". I downloaded the full album right away, before buying the CD as well a few weeks later .Yep, a little obsessive with this band.
Felt almost like discovering "The Cure" or something. A classic and unique sound. An album filled with reverb and moody melancholy. Very haunting and pretty. I actually downloaded their whole discography. Got every single song and I'm liking it all!!!!!!!
Guess I'm crazy for this band. lol

WILD NOTHING. "Live in dreams"

MY PLAYLIST!!!

Sorry guys. I'm in a huge rush this month with tons of DJ bookings + my 10th year anniversary of DJing to organize = C.R.A.Z.Y.!!!!! Not a lot of time for blogging.

But I'm coming here quickly to post a few of my new discoveries that are playing in a loop in my loft these days...many great new bands and songs. Some older stuff too.

Enjoy and do a bit of research on the bands you like. ;-)

SMALL BLACK. Despicable dogs


THE JOY FORMIDABLE. Whirring




INDIAN JEWELRY. Excessive moonlight



GORILLAZ. Empire ants



Q LAZZARUS. Goodbye horses



UNKLE. Follow me down ( Golden Filter Remix )



THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN. Head on