Kitsune Parisien III Is Perfect

When you think of things that are consistent, one thinks of the Jaguars and their losing record, the weather in Florida and if you're a fan of electronic music Kitsune Records. This is a record label that, so far as I know, is like 98% consistently great. They just don't do bad, it doesn't exist in their vocabulary. They don't cop out and they don't waste their time on trends or scenes, they stick to what they know and they are what they are and they are great at it.

If you follow the label at all you know then that the Kitsune Maison compilations are universally accepted as a global taste maker for the dance floor. These compilations provide your feet with the tunes they will dance non-stop to until the next Maison compilation comes out. While the Maison compilations focus on Kitsune's worldwide search for cool they've only recently begun to spread their wings and look for the same thing in specific locations. From Kitsune America bringing American electro to the forefront to the Kitsune Parisien's third compilation of talent from their home base in Paris the brand is branching out in all the best ways.

It only makes sense that Kitsune release a series of compilations based on the Parisien scene. Kitsune Parisien III is a thirteen track exploration of the Paris underground via the darkened dance floors of the City of Lights. It's epic and so far removed from the dubstep and "electro-house," that's swept the planet that it's a gulp of fresh air. Say what you will, but Kitsune rarely bows to trends and this compilation is no different. This record hovers between proper electro/synthpop and house music in the fine French tradition. The result is a sensual seductive slink across the dance floor with many of the songs being instant classics. From Pyramid's, "Noise," to the sensual washes of Cinema's, "UV," the record is like a slow motion disco tuned to seduction. While the golden age of French house may be nearly a decade behind us, Kitsune Parisien III reminds us that Paris is still burning!

Perfect in just about every way, Kitsune Parisien III is no different from just about everything else Kitsune does; it's great. It's consistently cutting edge, catchy, and always ahead of the curve. It's a brilliant reminder that Paris loves to dance and that electro still has a strong pulse despite what Skrillex and nu-metal has done to dance music. So raise a glass of champers and celebrate Kitsune Parisien III ! Viva Le France!

Ballake Sissoko Is At Peace

Sometimes a record can almost serve as therapy. The soothing sounds creaking out of vinyl can tame the beast that's lurking within in. It acts as a de-stressing agent that calms your nerves and allows you to get on with the day. That being said, Ballake' Sissoko's album At Peace is exactly what the doctor prescribed on this Monday morning.

At Peace is truth in advertising as it's Malian based music is absolutely gorgeous, light on the ears and almost ethereal in it's sounds. With traditional instrumentation (Kora & Belafon), strings, and guitars Sissoko and his band create this world where everything is calm and at rest. It's quite a world away from what's actually going on in Mali at the moment but as I mentioned it's the sort of record that helps you get on with it and the sort of thing that points you in the direction of carrying on regardless of how grim things might be. At Peace is filled with optimism, beauty and tradition and it's minimal sounds are simply mesmerizing. This is music for soothing, for relaxation, for letting your mind wander endlessly and it works.

You may think you know African music but you don't. At Peace proved that I didn't. While hinging on almost being a new age kind of record Sissoko uses enough traditional instrumentation and native influence to make it officially a world music record. Regardless of where it comes from or what instruments are used At Peace is a stunning record that's beguiling and an absolute joy to listen to. This will be on repeat most Mondays from now on...I need it's soothing power.

Beat Mark Create Hows Of Joy

France's Beat Mark are so in love with late eighties British Pop that you'd swear that they were a long lost relative of someone from Cherry Red Records. This is a band that sounds so much like the bands that were on Postcard, Cherry Red, Fire, Creation, Sarah Records and the like that it's almost impossible to believe that they're actually from across the channel and have only been together for a few years. It's just incredible how much Howls Of Joy sounds like a relic from the c86 era..and that's a mighty high compliment.

Put it this way, if you were to look up c86 pop in the Penguin music guide next to the definition would be a picture of Howls Of Joy. Beat Mark have issued a record that jangles, fizzes, and pops with such authenticity that you'd swear it was a super project featuring members of Primal Scream, Orange Juice, The Pastels, and The Wedding Present. It's amazing, jaw dropping indie pop that's incredibly British despite being French and sounds like a fine spring day. It's effervescent stuff that's just simply overjoyed. As Cornershop's Tjinder Singh is noted as saying, "I realized that I was listening to what England had lost the ability to create anymore." It's true, this is classic British pop that's simply not made any more and it's bloody brilliant. From song titles like, the 60's influenced noisy fizz of, "Breezing," to the stompy VU like pop of, "People Of Your Kind," Howls Of Joy never looks forward but longingly looks back in all the best ways.

Howls Of Joy is essential stuff. They don't make pop like this anymore. It's joyous, clever, and energetic. In a world where the fun has been yanked out of music it's nice to know that bands like Beat Mark are still around to remind us of how great and enjoyable indie pop can be! This is the sort of record that will make shy, shuffly pop kids everywhere scream Howls Of Joy!

Silvana Kane's La Jardinera

Silvana Kane is probably best known as the vocalist of global pop band Pacifika. Born in Peru but Canadian by residence, and traveled by nature Kane has been back and forth between the two continents most of her life. Travels which have undoubtedly influenced her emotionally, culturally, and musically; throw in other South American influences from Brazil, Argentina, and Chile and you have one well seasoned and informed musician. Her solo album La Jardinera is a reflection of that and it's something to behold.

Far more intimate and quiet than anything by Pacifika, La Jardinera is a fragile and delicate recording that's a reflection of Kane's musical prowess. Much of La Jardinera is reflective and solemn while being completely inspirational. Sure it's just Kane with minimal musical arrangements but the songs manage to be incredibly touching on some emotional scale. Her voice is awesome and at times feels as if she's whispering into your ear. It's a very pretty record that hints at her musical heroes, thoughts, emotions, and values.

La Jardinera is an interesting recording because of just how transcontinental it is. I challenge you to find one person you know that's as well traveled as Silvana Kane is. Having been up and down the planet and picking up all this stuff along the way has aided her ability to craft her songs and those of others into something that touches your soul. Her songs and the covers she's chosen are genuine and contemplative and listening to them in Spanish only makes them feel more worldly. It's impressive stuff no matter how quiet it is.

H.E. Miller's Time Has Come

H.E. Miller is an independent artist from New York & New Jersey who has quietly recorded his Apocalyptic Dreams and now knows that Your Time Will Come with his latest album. How? Well he's recorded a ten song album of blues inflected rock and roll record that's lost in fantasy and a love of music. It's, surprisingly, not half bad stuff that remarkably at times sounds like a Bob Mould solo record and at others sounds like it should be air boating down the Bayou.

Your Time Will Come is a fun record that's got a level of energy that would put most musicians to shame. Miller loves to play guitar and you can hear that on every track here. Anyway, this is an energetic record that while obviously rooted in classic rock has it's toes dipped in indie rock, punk, and even power pop. Miller might not know that, but the comparisons to those genres and to Bob Mould are justified because not only does he sound like an amalgamation of all that at times but he has the spunk that so many of Sugar's, Husker Du's, and Mould's solo work has.

Miller is a pretty good guitar player and layers on the power chords with extreme velocity. He may not be a guitar god, but he gives it a shot. He's also a pretty darn good songwriter as well. Much of Your Time Will Come is extremely catchy and with the additional use of horns, keys, sugary sweet choruses and melodies that would make the Rolling Stones blush the record kind of makes itself easy to latch on to. Your Time Will Come may not be over complicated but it doesn't need to be; it's good stuff whose energy and style are infectious.

Rone's Landscapes Mesmerize

French techno boffin Rone has recently relocated to Berlin where he's recorded and released his latest album Tohu Bohu. In listening to this record for about five minutes It's easy to see what an effect this had on the recording process compared to his last record Spanish Breakfast. Expansive and euphoric the songs that make up Tohu Bohu are almost a reflection of the electronic promised land he now calls home. This often exploratory and sparse record is beautifully pieced together and is epic in it's scope and reach.

Tohu Bohu is an absolute joy to listen to and left me thinking that anyone who thought that minimal techno/glitch/etc couldn't be uplifting would be in for a surprise. This is a near heavenly experience as synths glisten and sparkle while lush beats and drawn out basslines wash over you like rays of springlike sunshine. It's a glorious record that's crystalline and atmospheric and sets a tone early and often. Unafraid to be experimental but unwilling to not be melodic Tohu Bohu is one sort of infinite landscape that's worth getting lost in. And it's easy to do that with the way Rone hypnotically constructs the songs here. When I say it's gorgeous in it's design and sound I quite literally mean that. This is the sound of heaven and it's awe inspiring.

Sometimes moves are bad decisions and sometimes they're a stroke of genius. It appears as though Rone's move to Berlin was the stuff of genius. Inspired and reflective, Rone has created a record that almost sounds like the future of Berlin. Minimal techno doesn't get much better than Tohu Bohu and if you're a fan of this genre then you definitely need this record in your life.

Pi**ed Jeans Are No Honeys

When you name your band Pissed Jeans chances are good you're not going to sing about love, fairies, summer vacations, and the joys of life. Let me tell you there's none of that goodness on their album Honeys. This group of grubby and grotty musicians throw three chords together hope they stick and just get on with it. They sound absolutely horrible, have no idea what a proper song sounds like and are so punk rock that they probably do wet themselves and probably never bathe.

Sounding like a very bad version of Danzig, Pissed Jeans grind out what little melody they can find and come up with something that sounds like a broken record stuck in a crack on the vinyl. Honeys is a mess. It's tuneless, messy, angsty and sounds like Danzig went off the rails and beat up everyone in his band and then forced them to record this record at wolf point. It's complete punk rock in the purest sense of the word because you get the sense that these guys just don't care about any of this. Honeys is there to be there...it occupies space and beats you over the head with a baseball bat if you listen too long simply because it can.

This record reminds me of why I was always glad I was a metal kid instead of a punk rock one. At least metal bands knew how to play their instruments and although much of death metal sounds like it was recorded in a cave it still offered more song structure, talent, and melody then anything punk rock ever hoped to. Pissed Jeans is annoying. Honeys is the sort of thing you'd like to swat away and get away from by any means necessary and I suspect that's just the way PJ likes it.