French Boutik – L'âme de Paris

Our favourite Parisian nova-mods are back with a second album! Mais oui!

These are strange and sad times for those of us living in the UK who feel in any way European. If being called “citizens of nowhere” by your own prime minister was not bad enough, the rise of small-minded nationalism and right-wing radicalisation should give all of us cause for concern. The current state of politics aside there are things that give me hope. One is the open-minded globally aware attitude of our country's youth, which will ultimately save us. The other is culture. Art, sport, literature and of course music all have a power to cross borders, change attitudes and minds, lift spirits and make life fun.

While politics may be heading towards nativism, music continues to sweep away the notion of borders. So in the spirit of European integration I'd like to draw your attention to this new album by French Boutik, a quartet of unbelievably stylish mods from Paris, who have over the last few years won over quite a few of us Brits by way of their previous records and trips across the Channel to play the occasional gig in the UK. (Though mainly just down south I'm sad to say.)

L'âme de Paris is the band's second album, following Front Pop, their delightful debut which came out in 2016. Much like the debut, L'âme de Paris (The Soul of Paris) mixes sharp mod grooves with indiepop melodies. If anything it's a more successful statement than its predecessor, with a sharper focus on songwriting, tighter arrangements and and a notable growing of confidence and musical sophistication. Neat instrumental and stylistic flourishes abound, and along with the switching boy/girl vocals and bi-lingual lyrics mean your interest is always held even if (like me) your French is a little rusty.

The bits of the language I do remember allow me to translate a little – 'Loins de Moi' is a song addressed to a former lover, 'Strasbourg St Denis' laments a changing city, and 'Amis Sur Facebook'.... well take a guess!

Respect to band members Gabriela, Zelda, Serge and Jean-Marc for another mighty fine record, and for flying the flag for culture. We salute you. L'âme de Paris - c'est moderniste! C'est fantastique! c'est French Boutik!

Clickhere for French Boutik's website.

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Clickhere for Heavy Soul Records (CD & LP)

Popincourt et French Boutik Chantent The Jam (Ltd. 7”)

 Two of Weller's deep cuts get a Gallic makeover! All profits to benefit the Teenage Cancer Trust!

There's always excitement round our house when our good friends French Boutik feature on a new piece of plastic. This new 7” comes in a lovely gatefold sleeve, is a tribute to The Jam and all profits will be donated to a charity that benefits the Teenage Cancer Trust (see links below).

To make matters more interesting it's a split single with an act who are new to me but very much worth investigating. The very wonderful Popincourt, I've since discovered, has made a series of records that blend soul, mod, lounge and baroque into a sound that's all his own. On this disc he's covered 'Tonight At Noon' from The Jam's second LP This Is The Modern World. For all Weller's mod credentials even at that stage in his career were clues to his wider tastes. The song's title is pure '60s psych-pop, an element brought to the fore in this dreamy version. Organ, harpsichord and guitar jangle back the almost whispered vocal. A great re-imagining.

The French Boutik side of the single is a French language version of 'The Place I Love' which features on The Jam's classic All Mod Cons LP. It's a great jangle pop take, driven by a lovely sinewy bass line and intertwined boy/girl vocals. Mirroring the psych-pop vibe is some neat backwards guitar towards the latter half of the track. Like all of French Boutik's records this is worth tracking down and is all for a great cause. Get on it!

All profits from this 7” will be donated to Specialized Project which benefits The Teenage Cancer Trust. - www.specializedproject.co.uk

Click here for Copase Disques.

Click here for Popincourt.

Click here for French Boutik.

French Boutik – Front Pop

Parisian nova-mods' full length debut oozes style and sophistication!

We've covered French Boutik here before of course, and delighted in their previous standalone vinyl releases – Les Chats De Gouttiere 7” and Ici Paris 2x7”. Now stripped to a lean and mean quartet they've just released their debut long-player which more than lives up to expectations. No great game changing moves but there's a definite distillation and honing here, along with a growth in confidence.

With the boy/girl vocals and split between French and English language songs French Boutik bring style and sophistication to the fore. Their previous releases hinted at a band capable of a range of moods and styles. Over ten new original tracks and a neat version of Francoise Hardy's 'Je Ne Suis Pas La Pour Personne' the band get to show them in full

They describe their sound as Pop Moderniste and that's about right. Rooted in '60s soul and mod but with a nod to The Style Council and a touch of acid-jazz here and there (check out the flute solo on 'Hitch A Ride'). Factor in a little bossa nova, some louge-core within that musical melting pop you'll find French Boutik. Step in and enjoy!

Click here for French Boutik on Facebook.

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Click here for Copase Disques.

Click here for Detour Records.

French Boutik – Ici Paris (2 x 7”)

Parisian lounge-mods further the “pop moderniste” sound on their second EP, a double 7” no less!

Following last year's Les Chats de Gouttière EP, Paris-based boy/girl band French Boutik get even groovier on their latest double 7” single. Ici Paris is an more assured and confident take on the mix of lounge, beat and mod-ish sounds that made the band's first EP so welcome and refreshing.

The five piece group, whose musical taste is as sharp as their clothes and haircuts, personify retro cool while documenting the trials and tribulations of la vie moderne. Their sound is rooted in the '60s, as best demonstrated on lead song Ici Paris, the first of three French language songs and a track which would sit easily on La Belle Epoque, EMI's compilation of '60s French girl singers.

Though my schoolboy knowledge of the French language has mostly faded from memory, the odd phrase or sentence cuts through. On Ici Paris vocalist Gabriela Giacoman sings of a tenant (and her cats) fighting against a greedy landlord and the soulless desires of city planners. This theme of the underdog is echoed on Facile, an uptempo floor-filler which rallies against big business.

Pousse Au Crime has a spy movie vibe about it with some neat organ and guitar chops. As on the band's last EP there's a token English language track for us non bilingual rosbif. Kinky Alumette tells a tale of trying to get to a band practise during a Paris Metro train strike. Groovy retro-pop done with flair and humour. As with the band's previous 7”, it's a lovingly designed and packaged affair, and well worth a spin on anyone's Dansette.

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