June 23, 2010
Khmeropedies I & II
Khmeropédies I & II explore the possibilities of applying contemporary choreographic ideas to classical Khmer dance. Using elements of Khmer court dance vocabulary as a base and incorporating contemporary Western movement and techniques, the work explores how and where these different styles and ideas meet. Khmeropédies I is a solo performed by Chumvan Sodhachivy. Khmeropédies II is created with and performed by four extraordinary dancers: Sam Sathya, Chey Chankethya, Phon Sopheap, and Chumvan Sodhachivy. Music for Khmeropédies I & II ranges from the German industrial band Einstürzende Neubauten to Yves Montand to Tiny Toones (a Cambodian rap group formed by street kids). Lighting design is by Robert W. Henderson, Jr.
Emmanuele Phuon is a French-Cambodian dancer and choreographer who started her training with the Royal Ballet of Cambodia at the age of 5. In 1975, she moved to Bangkok with her mother where she lived until age 16. At that time, she decided to become a dancer and left for Avignon, France, where she studied and graduated from the Conservatoire National de Danse in 1986. She has performed with the Elisa Monte Dance Company from 1989 till 1994, the Baryshnikov White Oak Dance Project from 1995 till 2001 and has worked with Martha Clarke, Joachim Schloemer, Meg Stuart, and Yvonne Rainer among others.
This dance work by French-Cambodian choreographer Emmanuèle Phuon, created with and performed by four traditional Khmer dancers from Cambodia, is a cross-cultural exploration of the merging of Western choreographic forms and traditional Khmer dance.
Each performance will be followed by a discussion with the artists.
A Cross The Universe Electronic
’A Cross The Universe’ is the first live outing for French electronic duo Gaspard Auge and Xavier de Rosnay otherwise known as Justice. Rocking dancefloors across the world, this DVD documentary and CD captures the duo’s ferocious energy -from DJ sets to live shows. Songs such as ’DANCE’, ’Phantom’ and ’We Are Your Friends’ come to life, leaving the audience enthralled.
After the original release of “We Are Your Friends” Justice worked on remixes for a number of French groups (Vicarious Bliss, Scenario Rock, and Gambit) as well as for larger mainstream acts such as Britney Spears, N*E*R*D, Fatboy Slim, and Daft Punk. Justice’s first solo single, “Waters of Nazareth,” was released on Ed Banger Records in September 2005 and was championed by DJs such as Erol Alkan, Tiga, 2 Many DJ’s, and Ivan Smagghe. The track was re-released in 2006 with additional remixes. The duo’s prolific remix work continued, as they turned in mixes for Franz Ferdinand, Mystery Jets, Soulwax, and Mr. Oizo.
Justice at Rock Werchter 2008
Justice won the award for Best Video at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2006 for Justice vs. Simian – “We Are Your Friends.” Augé and de Rosnay were not present at the ceremony, and the award was accepted by label art director “So Me” and video director Jérémie Rozan.
Their debut album, titled †, was released on Ed Banger Records on 12 June 2007. The album was released in the United States on Downtown/Ed Banger. The album was preceded by the D.A.N.C.E. EP, released on 28 May 2007, which featured the tracks “Phantom” and their own remix of “D.A.N.C.E.” titled “B.E.A.T”. “D.A.N.C.E.” was nominated for “Video of the Year” at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. On 1 November, Justice received the “Video Star” award at the European Music Awards in Munich and was named the Best French Act of the Year. Justice was chosen to do a mix for the Fabriclive series in 2008, but Fabric rejected it. De Rosnay said that, “[T]hey weren’t ready for something like this.” Now titled “Justice Xmas Mix,” the mix is available on the Internet.
Justice appeared as a Live PA at the 2007 Parklife and festivals around Australia, the 2008 Coachella festival; the 2007 and 2008 Sónar festival in Barcelona, Fuji Rock Festival in Niigata, Japan; the Hultsfred Festival in Hultsfred, Sweden; the Oxegen festival in Kildare, Ireland; the T in the Park festival in Kinross, Scotland; the Reading Festival in Reading, England; the Vieilles Charrues Festival in Carhaix, France; the Roskilde Festival in Roskilde, Denmark; Pukkelpop in Belgium, at the “I LOVE TECHNO” festival in Ghent, Belgium; Dour Festival in Belgium; Rock Werchter in Belgium; the Lowlands festival and the Pinkpop festival in The Netherlands; at Tennents Vital in the Radio One Tent in Belfast; at the Phoenix Park Marquee in Dublin; and at the Festival Internacional de Benicàssim in Spain.
Gotan Project
Their first release was Vuelvo Al Sur/El Capitalismo Foráneo in 2000, followed by the album La Revancha Del Tango in 2001. Their music is clearly tango, but also uses electronic elements such as samples, beats and breaks.
The name of the trio is a play on the name of a famous tango compilation album that featured several American classical musicians who came together to record a tango album, originally released in 1982. This album, called the Tango Project, includes a rendition of Carlos Gardel’s and Alfredo Le Pera’s “Por Una Cabeza” which had been featured in movies such as Schindler’s List, Scent of a Woman and True Lies.
Following the renewed success of the “Tango Project” album, the modern trio then decided to give themselves a name that paid tribute to the “Tango Project”, this time using a form of wordplay called “vesre” that is very common in Lunfardo, an argot of Rioplatense Spanish. This wordplay involves, in the simplest cases, moving the last syllable to the beginning of the word (“vesre” itself is “reves”—the Spanish word for “reverse”—with the second syllable in first). Thus, the word Tango becomes Gotan, the name the trio have chosen for their project in reference to the hugely-successful Tango Project album which helped popularize tango music once again.
You Kingdom You Rock
The tone and swagger reminds me of Diamond Nights’ 2005 release Popsicle, which still gets my inner glam-rocker all excited with each re-listen. Coincidentally, the two bands both hail from that little east coast music Mecca known as New York City. From the hard charging guitar riffs of “I’ll Take You Down” and “Love Is A Burning Thing,” to The Rapture-esque dance beats and vocal squeals of “Bronx Bombardier,” (which is anchored by the chant, and all too factual threat, “Don’t fuck with me when I’m not sober…”), to the finely orchestrated and layered structure of “Dawn Lament” and T.Rex styled “But You’re Such A Cherry,” Fires Of Rome do a little bit of everything, and they do it all really well. If you’re seeking a solid party rock album, look no further.
The songs swing from 70s glam swagger to tough, hard-nosed pop. Excellent vocals. Tight playing and nifty arrangements. HIGH SPOTS – Dawn Lament, Set in Stone, It Makes me Weak, Love is Burning Thing.
Mr Oizo
The audience’s favorite then became a yellow puppet named Flat Eric nodding his head to the music, the protagonist of the video to the track also involved in several TV commercials of Levi’s jeans. Despite Dupieux creating a lot more worthy tracks and releasing more than one album he has still not managed to draw the audience’s attention to any of his other works. Yet it is quite probable that the situation may change with the release of his third studio recording Lambs Anger as the new album proves to be rather an anticipated one after 2005’s Moustache (Half a Scissor) and offers a great deal of tracks pretending to become new hits.
Although this album contains many of Mr. Oizo’s trademark avant-garde elements, it also has many elements of Electro and French House not previously heard in his albums, most notably French electro-rapper Uffie’s guest track, “Steroids”. The first single off of the album is “Positif”, which was released three days after the album’s release and has gotten support from a wide variety of DJs, including Flying Lotus and D.I.M. Unlike Analog Worms Attack and Moustache (Half a Scissor), the album is composed of many dance tracks suited for a club environment.
The album cover pays homage to the 1928 surrealist film “Un Chien Andalou”.
This record marked a change in Mr. Oizo’s style.
Prototypes
French indie pop trio Prototypes build on the hooky, New Wave-inspired sound of their debut (which was really a compilation of their first two independently released albums) with 2008’s Synthetique. Blending synth pop and the cheek of classic French pop, Synthetique is as well constructed as it is enjoyable to listen to. Thanks to Isabelle Le Doussal’s sexy vocals and the minimal, muscular sound of the band, Prototypes prove that simple, synth-driven pop tunes are alive and thriving.
And for the most part it is. It’s an eclectic mix but one that work. I suppose that it’s reminiscent of another of my great discoveries, Cansei de ser Sexy. (I say that tongue in cheek boys and girls). The tunes are so instantly catchy that it matters not that I haven’t a clue what the singer Bubble Starr is going on about.
Even the track Something manages to stay banging for 7 minutes without getting in the slightest bit boring. I have to admit that I prefer them when they are sticking more to the “electro-pop” vibe and some of the more experimental tracks, whilst interesting, lack the “hit” factor.
Femi Kuti
It is seven years since Fight To Win, four since the live Africa Shrine. He is also father to 7 children! This sabbatical also saw him learning a lot more about being a musician. Femi has learnt to play piano properly and gone back to the trumpet, his first instrument, which he gave up in favour of the sax.
The world is full of celebrity offspring, yet it is almost impossible to think of one who lives up to expectations to the same degree as Femi Kuti, son of Fela, the originator of Afrobeat and former Public Enemy No1 in Nigeria. His latest studio set, Day By Day, has been a long time coming. It is seven years since Fight To Win, four since the live Africa Shrine. He is also father to 7 children! This sabbatical also saw him learning a lot more about being a musician. Femi has learnt to play piano properly and gone back to the trumpet, his first instrument, which he gave up in favour of the sax. The benefits are immediately apparent on Day By Day. You can tell that the long lay off has inspired Femi.
Francis Jocky
Francis Jocky is one of the most exciting songwriters in the modern music scene. His music is a mellow blend of fantastic pop songwriting, international sounds and flavors, and soulful instrumentation. From Africa to France to the American stage, Francis Jocky is an artist with universal appeal. Francis Jocky was born in Douala-Cameroon, and was the third of four children. Francis has always felt that his family position not the oldest, not the youngest, or the only girl like his older sister contributed to his love of music. From an early age Francis learned to express himself through song and by the age of 12 he was already writing original songs.Francis started playing piano when he was still in Cameroon, participating in school bands and childhood contests.
Francis Jocky’s music is a mellow blend of fantastic pop songwriting, international sounds and flavors, and soulful instrumentation. From an early age he learned to express himself through music and by the age of twelve had begun playing piano and writing his own songs.
Francis Jocky has a wonderful duality as an artist, which probably has its roots in his combined educational and musical training. He is the recipient of a Ph.D. from the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris, France.
Besides playing his own music in clubs around the globe, many have approach him in collaborating on various musical projects including one with the legendary Jon Anderson, lead singer of the band YES. In their collaboration, the band “Know” was formed and signed by Eagle Rock Entertainment. Francis Jocky composed fourteen songs of the band’s critically acclaimed album “The More You Know.” He also recorded for “A Tribute to Sting” and was approached by Eagle Rock Entertainment to produce an album using South African music enhanced with modern production. Francis took the producers role, taking the name of “FJ & Living Souls” for the project. When the album, “Ambient Africa” was released, it received critical praise from the worldwide media.
His influences are easily traced to artists such as Jackson Browne, Randy Newman and Motown greats such as Stevie Wonder. He has been heavily compared to both Seal and Al Jarreau and also counts among his influences, jazz masters such as Miles Davis and Thelonius Monk.
June 22, 2010
LOVE2 -- Air
Originally gaining recognition for their down-tempo cocktail funk of “Modular Mix” and “Casanova 70″ on the French SourceLab compilations of 1997, Air released their full-length debut the following year. An incredibly ambitious and successful melange of Serge Gainsbourg by way of Vangelis, Moon Safari is awash in strings, vocoders, analog synths, fluttering electro pulses and soulful backbeats. Everything from the rare groove of “La Femme D’Argent” to the Euro-pop of “Kelly, Watch the Stars!” is vaguely familiar, but never so successfully arranged until this point.
With such an impressive body of work behind them, the band is now free to write and record as the inspiration takes them and able to draw on their very own musical lexicon honed over 12 years of active duty and an enviable collection of vintage synthesizers, guitars, and assorted gadgets that grace Atlas, their very own state-of-the-art recording studio nestled in the leafy backstreets of northern Paris. Love 2 is the group’s fifth studio album and, whilst being instantly recognisable as an Air record, sees the band exploring some new territories with the help of of L.A.-based drummer/percussionist Joey Waronker.
The birth Of Cornelius
The album chronicles the latest chapter for a musician who has already had a remarkable career—and an extraordinary life. Though virtually unknown to an American audiences, Corneille sells out arenas in other parts of the world. His albums have reached monumental, Diamond-selling status in France and Canada (His country of residence). And those accomplishments follow struggles and challenges in his personal history as a Rwanda genocide survivor, challenges that are truly beyond comprehension.
The two first love songs Back to life and too much of Everything show the potential for this artist ; he recently got married and his love for music and now the love for his wife helped him to get Back to life.
Corneille “The Birth Of Cornelius” (singer, cd, Europe) – Music Banter There is HUGE new talent on the music scene now..his name is Corneille and he is out with a brand new CD entitled “The Birth Of Cornelius.”
From Billie Holiday to Edith Piaf
Marsalis and Galliano surmounted that challenge with nine artful arrangements that are striking in their rhythmic variety. From the dizzying waltz tempo of “La Foule” to the infectious swing of “Them There Eyes” to the haunting performance of “Strange Fruit,” the magic of this concert has been faithfully captured in sound, as well as in video through a special bonus DVD and is a must-have item for serious jazz collectors and casual listeners alike.
The Deluxe edition CD/DVD capturing all of the stunning detail of this incredible live performance with the Wynton Marsalis Quintet and Richard Galliano at the Jazz in Marciac festival (Summer 2008) will be released in the U.S. on June 22 (Rampart Street, LLC / Jazz in Marciac).
Musicians:
Wynton Marsalis, Trumpet
Richard Galliano, Accordion
Walter Blanding, Saxophone
Dan Nimmer, Piano
Carlos Henriquez, Bass
Ali Jackson, Drums
Holiday and Piaf had very little in common musically. But when Galliano, the French accordion virtuoso, and Marsalis got together at the 2008 Marciac Festival, alternating songs associated with the two singers, they succeeded in finding a great deal of common ground. They are both phenomenal players and Marsalis’s band is one of the best anywhere. Indeed, his saxophonist, Walter Blanding, steals the show at one point.
Third Round
If anything, Third Round capitalizes on the strengths of its predecessors while honing, even further, Katché’s keen sense of economy. With an entirely revamped lineup this time around, only one of the album’s eleven tracks breaks the five-minute mark, and only seven exceed four minutes. In performance—and Katché is on a lengthy world tour in support of the album, though with a different touring group than heard here—it’s a certainty that he’ll let the music stretch out a bit more. But on the album, Katché’s intuitive sense of never overstepping the boundaries of what makes a song memorable—and these are songs, with a pop-like sense of construction, despite pianist Jason Rebello (Jeff Beck, Sting, Peter Gabriel) bringing a far more sophisticated harmonic language to the date—is as acute as it’s ever been.
Sure, “Outtake Number 9″ seems to fade out just as it’s getting started, with über-session bassist Pino Palladino (Jeff Beck, Paul Simon, John Mayer) lithely combining deep, in-the-gut root notes with more delicate harmonics, and Katché as upfront as he gets on the disc (and that’s not much). But with ECM’s ever-strong instincts in sequencing, it acts almost as a palate cleanser between the light and appropriately titled “Springtime Dancing” and ultimately even more buoyant “Shine and Blue,” where Tore Brunborg’s tenor doubles with Rebello’s acoustic piano for a singable, equally dancing melody, following a rubato intro completely dependent on its performers’ ability to listen…and respond.
Highline Ballroom is proud to present Manu Katche, a French drummer and songwriter of Ivorian origin, on Thursday July 1st at 8pm. His latest album, Third Round, will be released by ECM on June 22.
If anything, Third Round capitalizes on the strengths of its predecessors while honing, even further, Katché’s keen sense of economy. With an entirely revamped lineup this time around, only one of the album’s eleven tracks breaks the five-minute mark, and only seven exceed four minutes. In performance—and Katché is on a lengthy world tour in support of the album, though with a different touring group than heard here—it’s a certainty that he’ll let the music stretch out a bit more. But on the album, Katché’s intuitive sense of never overstepping the boundaries of what makes a song memorable—and these are songs, with a pop-like sense of construction, despite pianist Jason Rebello (Jeff Beck, Sting, Peter Gabriel) bringing a far more sophisticated harmonic language to the date—is as acute as it’s ever been.
Sure, “Outtake Number 9″ seems to fade out just as it’s getting started, with über-session bassist Pino Palladino (Jeff Beck, Paul Simon, John Mayer) lithely combining deep, in-the-gut root notes with more delicate harmonics, and Katché as upfront as he gets on the disc (and that’s not much). But with ECM’s ever-strong instincts in sequencing, it acts almost as a palate cleanser between the light and appropriately titled “Springtime Dancing” and ultimately even more buoyant “Shine and Blue,” where Tore Brunborg ‘s tenor doubles with Rebello’s acoustic piano for a singable, equally dancing melody, following a rubato intro completely dependent on its performers’ ability to listen…and respond.