Vacance: "Satellite" video

French synth New Wave trio Vacance made a video for Satellite, a track from their new album Après la pluie: "A colourful band-aid for dealing with the undeniable fact that they are getting older. Ideals have taken a beating from disillusions, and every day hassles have gotten in the way. Yes, they are looking back at times when life seemed less complicated, with the upbeat 17 ans as the prime example, but they also have an open mind about what lies ahead at this stage of their lifes."

» Vacance on Facebook

HCTF review of Après la pluie

Gabriel Vicéns: scores available on Stradivarius & Wandelweiser

Composer and guitarist Gabriel Vicéns has made some of his music available on sheet music seller's sites Stradivarius and Wandelweiser. This will helpful for students who wrecked their brains to get a handle on his modus operandi, creating modern jazz with a classical twist.

» gabrielvicens.com

HCTF review of Niebla

DOPPLeR: Pourquoi Ce Disque?

photo: Antonin Borie

When French progressive noise rock trio DOPPLeR announced a show in their hometown Lyon in 2020 after a 10-year hiatus a ripple of excitement went through the underground scene that grew into a wave. It convinced the band to reform and hit the road again on a regular basis. Releasing new music however, took a bit longer, but with the self-deprecatingly titled Pourquoi Ce Disque? they have physical evidence that they are here to stay.

It is an album that will have mainstream lovers running to the emergency exits, with their ears covered - they must have missed the warning tag line "Ils font une musique que personne ne danse", but people with a working knowledge of bands like Tool and a penchant for shifting time signatures and songs that can incorporate full-on metal and pastoral interludes without missing a beat, are in for a treat.

Words about music (837): David Gilmour

I just play intuitively and work the same way in the studio. I don't have any magical effects or anything that helps me to get my particular sound.

David Gilmour

Icarus Phoenix: Oh, the Joy of Life!

A chance meeting with someone who managed to get out of a cult inspired songer-songwriter Drew Danburry to write Oh, the Joy of Life! for his band Icarus Phoenix, taking a scalpel to all the false promises that keep religious fanatics in check. O, and the leader will fuck your sister. Nice constrast using upbeat, sunny side up music to expose the dark side. Evangelicals will hate it.