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."

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HCTF review of Après la pluie

Vacance: Après la pluie

French synth New Wave trio Vacance are still stuck in the 80s on their new album Après la pluie, using electronic pop as 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.

OMD and to a lesser extent Depeche Mode are still the cornerstones of their music, with a seasoning of 60s French pop. Their melancholia is wrapped in comfy layers of analog synths. Allison Treutenaere, Laurent Billy and Michaël Korchia are fully confident that the rain will pass and make way for the sun again. If anything, music will always be there for them.

Vacance: "Bord de mer" video

French synth New Wave trio Vacance have made a video for Bord de mer, the first track from their debut album Nos Futurs: "Irony can be a weapon to keep the world at arm's length and they put it to good use in their lyrics. The music sounds cheerful, with all the breaks, beeps and purrs from yesteryear stacked upon each other until it almost comes crashing down. Fans of Kraftwerk can relate to their production values, but it's not as stoic and impenetrable. Vacance make it sound like it is always Summer, but that does not mean that it has to be sunny and warm all of time."

Vacance: Nos Futurs

photo: Karen Boubekeur

French synth New Wave trio Vacance serve up a mix of French Sixties pop and Eigthies pop that sounds sunny at first, but it's not that carefree. Things have gone wrong in their lifes as well and they are not afraid to discuss their failures and doubts. Their Nos Futurs finds them in a bit of a flux. They have shed a few responsibilties and hope to fulfill their dream to make it as a retro synth band - think OMD fronted by Charlotte Gainsbourg, but they shy away from fully committing themselves.

Irony can be a weapon to keep the world at arm's length and they put it to good use in their lyrics. The music sounds cheerful, with all the breaks, beeps and purrs from yesteryear stacked upon each other until it almost comes crashing down. Fans of Kraftwerk can relate to their production values, but it's not as stoic and impenetrable. Vacance make it sound like it is always Summer, but that does not mean that it has to be sunny and warm all of time.