Grenadine
So generally speaking I don't tend to blog about music that hasn't been released here in the United States. There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, it's a bit of an anachronism that with today's global economy, the Biz can't get it's shit together to make an artist's work available worldwide (especially in the case of non-physical digital downloads). Secondly, as I buy every album I blog about (no freebies for me, I'm afraid - although - hello Bonsound and Dare to Care/Grosse Boîte - I'm open to offers...), I refuse to line the pocket of middlemen and pay the ridiculous costs that import CDs attract.
Of course there's always the risk of cutting my nose off to spite my face; thus fantastic albums such as "Cosmofamille" by Moongaï, Pendentif's "Mafia Douce" or Pins' "Girls Like Us" have to wait until I make my annual pilgrimage to the Olde Worlde...
But then there are those albums that are so damn good that you just owe it to yourself to beg, steal, borrow (or buy, even)... And so, one set of favours pulled with contacts north of the 49th, a Dropbox account and an exchange of international beer tokens later...
Once upon a time, back in 2010 to be exact, I downloaded a really promising EP from classically trained (and smart - with a BA in anthropology and an MA in archeology already under her belt) French-Canadian singer-songwriter-musician Julie Brunet via Bandcamp. Released under her musical nom Grenadine, the songs more than hinted at someone who had a keen ear for intricate and timeless tunes that managed to distil the essence of not only contemporary (and radio friendly) pop but styles as diverse as Yé-Yé and Chanson... One to keep and eye out for...
And so I waited... and waited...
And then while perusing my favourite French music blog last month I came across this article about the long-awaited (by me) debut album from Ms. Brunet, also entitled "Grenadine"... The artist's website and that of concert promoter Preste provided enough teasers to suggest that this was an album worthy of a place in my collection and heart, but how to get hold of a copy without breaking the bank? And then Grenadine tweeted that the album was available via iTunes in Canada... And so a cunning plan was hatched...
So how does Grenadine version 2014 compare with the 2010 vintage?
Actually the easiest place to start is at the very end of the album with the a newly recorded version of 2010's "Papier carbone." While the original was built around a sparse up-tempo yet sultry synth-pop beat and hypnotic chorus, the album's version initially lulls you with it's haunting and subdued piano intro before building upon the original's foundations. It's a far more ambitious affair - the synth-beat is still detectable, but there's added percussion and chords bringing a richness to the sound and depth to the vocals... In comparison, the former sounds like a demo for the album's confident reprise. The song features a voice-over suggesting that pessimism rather than happiness may lead to a longer life - which actually provides a suitable closer for this accomplished work... Yes Grenadine writes about love and relationships, but often from the perspective of failing - this may be a contemporary pop-album, but saccharin sweet it is not.
The album openers, "Bonjour tristesse" - with it's nod towards the novelist Françoise Sagan - and "Marion" - with a delicious touch of reverb on the guitar - are both totally infectious pop song with the kind of catchy chorus and hook that you'll find yourself humming along to at the most inappropriate moments. They're both examples of the kind of timeless songs that litter this album, any of which could have been written anytime over the past fifty years and yet would still sound fresh today.
In fact it is this refreshing ability to craft songs that seamlessly span the ages - that again draw as much on the Sixties as today - that makes this album so enjoyable. You have a song like "Je veux, je veux" which - as others have commented - could so be a cover of a France Gall song (it isn't), while in the same breath (although I'm not sure whether Grenadine may necessarily agree) a hint of indie-pop influence - I mentioned "Marion" previously, but there are also some gorgeous indie chord progressions on "Amours microscopiques" (which is why I suspect these are current favourites - although there's something about the way the "Summerlove" with it's deceptively simple chorus, and the piano on "Ô toi" have this unnerving habit of sticking in my head...)
Of course there's always the risk of cutting my nose off to spite my face; thus fantastic albums such as "Cosmofamille" by Moongaï, Pendentif's "Mafia Douce" or Pins' "Girls Like Us" have to wait until I make my annual pilgrimage to the Olde Worlde...
But then there are those albums that are so damn good that you just owe it to yourself to beg, steal, borrow (or buy, even)... And so, one set of favours pulled with contacts north of the 49th, a Dropbox account and an exchange of international beer tokens later...
Once upon a time, back in 2010 to be exact, I downloaded a really promising EP from classically trained (and smart - with a BA in anthropology and an MA in archeology already under her belt) French-Canadian singer-songwriter-musician Julie Brunet via Bandcamp. Released under her musical nom Grenadine, the songs more than hinted at someone who had a keen ear for intricate and timeless tunes that managed to distil the essence of not only contemporary (and radio friendly) pop but styles as diverse as Yé-Yé and Chanson... One to keep and eye out for...
And so I waited... and waited...
And then while perusing my favourite French music blog last month I came across this article about the long-awaited (by me) debut album from Ms. Brunet, also entitled "Grenadine"... The artist's website and that of concert promoter Preste provided enough teasers to suggest that this was an album worthy of a place in my collection and heart, but how to get hold of a copy without breaking the bank? And then Grenadine tweeted that the album was available via iTunes in Canada... And so a cunning plan was hatched...
So how does Grenadine version 2014 compare with the 2010 vintage?
Actually the easiest place to start is at the very end of the album with the a newly recorded version of 2010's "Papier carbone." While the original was built around a sparse up-tempo yet sultry synth-pop beat and hypnotic chorus, the album's version initially lulls you with it's haunting and subdued piano intro before building upon the original's foundations. It's a far more ambitious affair - the synth-beat is still detectable, but there's added percussion and chords bringing a richness to the sound and depth to the vocals... In comparison, the former sounds like a demo for the album's confident reprise. The song features a voice-over suggesting that pessimism rather than happiness may lead to a longer life - which actually provides a suitable closer for this accomplished work... Yes Grenadine writes about love and relationships, but often from the perspective of failing - this may be a contemporary pop-album, but saccharin sweet it is not.
The album openers, "Bonjour tristesse" - with it's nod towards the novelist Françoise Sagan - and "Marion" - with a delicious touch of reverb on the guitar - are both totally infectious pop song with the kind of catchy chorus and hook that you'll find yourself humming along to at the most inappropriate moments. They're both examples of the kind of timeless songs that litter this album, any of which could have been written anytime over the past fifty years and yet would still sound fresh today.
In fact it is this refreshing ability to craft songs that seamlessly span the ages - that again draw as much on the Sixties as today - that makes this album so enjoyable. You have a song like "Je veux, je veux" which - as others have commented - could so be a cover of a France Gall song (it isn't), while in the same breath (although I'm not sure whether Grenadine may necessarily agree) a hint of indie-pop influence - I mentioned "Marion" previously, but there are also some gorgeous indie chord progressions on "Amours microscopiques" (which is why I suspect these are current favourites - although there's something about the way the "Summerlove" with it's deceptively simple chorus, and the piano on "Ô toi" have this unnerving habit of sticking in my head...)
Grenadine, band and a stripped-down, acoustic version of "Marion"
And then as the tempo is dropped just a notch there's a subtle ballad in "Amour de glace"; while "Petits mensonges" and "Oublie-la" add a tinge of country-folk (and I've lost count of the number of times I've lost my heart to an Arcadian-French accent in this respect); but ultimately Grenadine's musical sensibilities would appear fixed to the East and Francophone Europe. Commentators have mentioned Françoise Hardy and the aforementioned France Gall. Grenadine herself lists Vanessa Paradis amongst her influences.
Me? I don't claim to be an expert (I know what I like, etc...), but the whole timelessness of this album reminds me of what Jacques Duvall has done with Mademoiselle Nineteen or when Vanessa Contenay-
So the question is just how good is this album?
If breaking my "not available here" mantra wasn't enough, I wrote last year that Forêt's debut album was as stunning an example of inventive indie-rock as was released last year - in French or in English... Similarly, it's my opinion that Grenadine's debut album is as good a contemporary pop album as will be released this year - in French or in English...
Check out the video below for "Bonjour tristesse" for another taster from the album...
Grenadine gets in the habit for the official video of "Bonjour Tristesse"
Grenadine webstore
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