Metal Urbain - Anarchy In Paris!

Metal Urbain, "Ghetto" (YSI link)

Metal Urbain, "Anarchie Au Palace" (YSI link)

Metal Urbain, "Tango Sudiste" (YSI link)

Paris and punk? No joke, it wasn't all berets and crepes over there in the late 70s. Okay, there wasn't much of a punk scene, nothing close to what happened in the UK and US. Metal Urbain was the big fish in that small pond, a group that had a profound impact on the ensuing So Young But So Cold bands we discussed last week and who deserve a bigger place in the history of post-punk and bringing electronics to that genre.

Anarchy In Paris! is a compilation from Acute Records that covers most of their releases and a handful of unreleased numbers too. Released in 2003, it gives a great overview of the band's small recorded output and shows how far ahead of the curve they were than all of the other punk bands with their use of drum machines and synthesizers. Long-time readers will know that I have never really gotten into punk, but these guys have just enough of a skewed approach to make it work. I'm not totally certain why I don't like punk; the best guess I have is that I just don't like music that has an explicit political message. It's ironic, as I consider myself a political and engaged person, but there's something that leaves me cold when I hear angry, political music. Or maybe it's just the predictability of the punk I've heard, that same, loud and fast aesthetic that does nothing for me. Actually, I guess I do know why. Yeah!

The songs above should give everyone a chance to hear how Metal Urbain took the punk template and put their own spin on it. First off, there's the drums, which give the music an immediately cold and clinical sound that fights with the passionate vocals and guitars. There's also a willingness to experiment with duration and tempo, as you will hear 4+ minute songs, guitar drones and noise. "Ghetto" is my personal favorite, a jagged electronic punk freakout. Good stuff.

Grab your copy here, if you like the sound of the tracks above. I recommend it highly, a really unique sound that sits at the precipice of the punk and all that followed. Politics, drum machines, synths, loud guitars! Yeah! Fuck influence, this is just good music.

Ed Banger - Menage a Trois Mixmag Mix

Ed Banger (DJ Mehdi, Feadz and Pedro Winter, Menage a Trois Mixmag mix (YSI link) tracklisting in comments

Let's make it a Ed Banger vs Kitsune day here. The other big-name Paris label, Ed Banger Records, put together a mix for Mixmag magazine called Menage-a-Trois, a guide to 2008 according to the cover. When I think of menage-a-trois, the names Pedro Winter, DJ Mehdi and Feadz are no Christy Marks, Karina Hart and Merilyn, i.e. they're not at the top of the list. Ah, but my dude fear was easily overcome with the notion of those three combining to put out a mix.

It's a nice mix that should comes a surprise for those expecting nothing but choppy, massive electro-ed bangers; in fact, there's definite hip-hop and house elements throughout, which is what I've always heard when I've had a chance to catch Medhi, Busy and Feadz spin. For me, it makes the mix immensely more enjoyable to hear a mix of styles and sounds; it takes three excellent DJs to make that melange work seamlessly and the Ed Banger bols do that here. I should make clear that you aren't going to be hearing any Project Pat or Too $hort on here, as it's very much got its feet in the current electro/dance scene; It's a fun listen and will give you a much better sense of what's happening currently than you will get here, as I feel like my mind is stuck in the late 70s more and more.

Who doesn't love free mixes? Republicans, that's who. Are you a Republican? I didn't think, so get to downloadin'! Yeah!

Kitsune Maison 5

Pin Me Down, "Cryptic" (YSI link)

On Board, "Friendly Fires" (YSI link)

Before you even say it, yes, I know that this has been out for way more than a minute and that this sort of belated posting may get my mp3 blog card revoked. I am defying the system tonight, consequences be damned.

I mentioned that Ed Banger has been at the forefront of the Paris dance music rebirth over the past few years. That shortchanges another pivotal label that has made the rock kids dance and the dance kids rock, Kitsune. The fashion house has been slowly but surely releasing some of the best music of the past few years, introducing us to bands like Digitalism and Simian Mobile Disco. Their Kitsune Maison compilations are essential documents of the dance music scene, bringing together a mix of the best 12" releases and unreleased tracks.

The fifth edition is out, the Golden Edition; sadly this one doesn't reach the levels of the earlier editions, as it lacks the standout, killer tracks, little filler vibe of the first three editions. The album's highlights for me surprisingly come from the indie side of the ledger, which have a lean, dance-y feel that works perfectly. Pin Me Down's "Cryptic" reminds me of a female-fronted Bloc Party, which is a compliment for the record. It's got a great, simple refrain that The highlight for me is Friendly Fires "On Board" which I love love love. It's got the rare quality for this genre of not rushing things, slowing down even for an awesome, handclap breakdown. I had no idea who this band was, which is why compilations like this are so rad and so necessary. Other highlights come from the Fairy Lights mix of Late of the Pier, the Gentlemen Drivers Rave mix for The Teenagers' "Homecoming" and Autokratz's "Pardon Garcon."

Like I said, this one isn't on par with the best of the series. I love the mix of indie and dance music and their hybrids, this one just didn't have the same quality of songs. However, your mileage could easily vary, so grab a copy and support one of the best labels extant. If you don't already own the first four volumes, I'd recommend putting those on the top of the list.

Ed Rec Vol. 3

Mr Oizo, "Minuteman's Pulse" (YSI link)

DJ Mehdi, "Pocket Piano" (YSI link)

Let's stay in Paris but turn our attention to the present in the City Of Lights. The one label that's synonymous with all the rebirth of electronic music there is Ed Banger, a label that has consistently put out some of the best music over the past few years. I've been on the bandwagon since early on (shout out to Project Matt and Lauren Flax for bringing the label to NYC a long time ago before everyone and their mother got into these guys) and it's been exciting to watch them assume global dominance in such a short time.

They are back again in a big way with the release of the Ed Rec Volume 3 compilation, featuring new and unreleased tracks from the label's stable of producers. You know the big names - Justice, Busy P, Uffie - they're all represented here. But, it's that second level, imo, that makes the label so special, those unassuming names that consistently put out interesting tracks. Guys like Mr Oizo and DJ Mehdi don't get the recognition that the others get, mainly because they haven't dropped an anthem like the more famous indie dance acts have. I don't think the two tracks above are going to change that, but they are still rad as hell and show subtle tweaks to the Ed Banger sound. Mr Oizo drops a chopped-up tune, "Minuteman's Palace," with awesome horn melody, a female computer voice, lasers and stuterring drums. He's bringing back that futuristic vision for electro, I do say. Mehdi goes in the complete opposite direction on "Pocket Piano" with a nice, disco-y track that lets things develop. The congos and pianos are not what you expect on this compilation, which is a good thing; even better, it doesn't have a "look at me, I'm doing something different" vibe either. There's also big tracks by Justice, a heavy metal banger by SebastiAn, a great Uffie song that doesn't sound like what you'd expect and a lot more.

Grab your copy today at Turntable Lab, a great chance for everyone who doesn't buy vinyl to show some support to a great label. We'll come back to France soon, but next up we go back to the old New York. Tune in and turn out.

So Young But So Cold: French Underground Music 1979-1982

J.J. Burnel, "Euroman" (YSI link)

Kas Product, "So Young But So Cold" (YSI link)

I believe that Volga Select and Tigersushi presented this CD, So Young But So Cold: French Underground Music 1979-1982, solely for me. First, the title is B-A-N-A-N-A-S. It's not just that the title, minus the French underground part, is going to be the name of Chapter 7 of my autobiography, chronicling my 20-28 years. [Incidentally, Chapter 8 is called The Best of Times and chronicles my marriage to Christy Marks, ascension to the role of today's Jane Jacobs and jut general radness of my thirties.] It's also that it's about being cold and detached and distant, which is so me. It's also the fact that it's about the French, my national obsession (shout outs to Eric Cantona, Emanuel Levinas and of course, my father). Plus it focuses on that Pound for Pound golden period, the late 70s, early 80s, when new wave, no wave, disco, electro and hip-hop all came together and melded and reformed and melted faces.

Seriously though, this is one of the best compilations I've heard in a long time. It's everything a compilation should be, a chronicle of an forgotten period of music that deserves to be remembered. It's not surprising that Volga Select was behind this, as it features the amazing death disco man, Ivan Smagghe, as one-half of the duo; the dude has an ear for the dark side of the underground (cf. Death Disco). He was joined by Volga Select partner, a.k.a. Mark Collin, in compiling the music on the disc, This one takes a look at the underground of French music for a three-year stretch that isn't associated as much of a golden period in that country's musical history. The music here covers varied ground, from more new-wave-y stuff to disco-not-disco tracks to experimental stuff; the common theme is the coldness of the music, dominated by machines like the synth and drum machines; one wonders if the government gave out drum machines and synthesizers to every child in the country. Better health care and free Rolands, people! Vive la France! Anyway, the title of the album fits perfectly, as these young groups all seem to have sucked the joy out of the disco that came before (and I mean that as the highest compliment). They've turned in machine music and complimented with detached vocals sung with no divaness at all.

I've chosen a couple of my favorites that should give you a sense of the music on So Young But So Cold. "Euroman" by JJ Bernel is probably my favorite, a minimal, slow-building track that would have fit well with the whole NYC scene of this same period. There's static-y drums, strummed guitar chords, a deep, dubby bass and the whisper-y French vocals of Bernel (I assume). It sounds like the thing could explode at any moment, but it never does. It stays nice and calm, never getting carried away. Awesome. I also went with the title song by Kas Product, "So Young But So Cold." This one's got a electro punk vibe, with some wicked synths, drum machine devastation and intensity. Mona and Spatz Soyoc ironically may have the least cold song on here, as the vocals get belted out with punk abandon. I really could have chosen any of the 16 tracks, as they all work for me, not a letdown on the whole disc. My only disappointment with the CD is the lack of quality liner notes; it would have been nice to have a little more historical information about this period in France, the story on these bands, whether there was a scene or if these bands worked in isolation, what happened to them, etc.

As you can tell, I recommend this as highly as possible, an essential purchase for anyone who likes the music and attitude that lies behind this blog. Grab your copy at Forced Exposure of the repressed version before it goes out of print again and you have to scour ebay or beg your friend for a copy. So Young! So Cold! Yeah!

More Surkin Remixes

Paul Johnson, "Hot (Surkin remix)" (YSI link)

Justine Electra, "Killalady (Surkin remix)" (YSI link)

I wanted to put up one last post for Surkin as the year comes to an end, as he's had a huge 2007. I had to put up this remix of a Paul Johnson track, as it perfectly encapsulates some of Pound for Pound's main interests: Paris electro remixing a Chicago house legend. Johnson is a stone-cold legend, from his early releases on Dance Mania to his classic albums on Peacefrog to his remixes of people like Green Velvet and Joey Beltram, dude has had a hand in the development of house music for more than a decade. Anyway, really rad to see Surkin given a chance to remix "Hot," since he has always seemed like one of the Paris wave most in tune to the booty past. The remix is good, not his best by any means. This one took a few listens for me to get into, it has sort of a twisted jackin' sound that isn't immediate.

I actually much more prefer his remix of Justine Electra's "Killalady" from her 2006 album, Soft Rock. This may be one of the best I've heard from the boy wonder, a raging-yet melodic electrotech track that works from the first laser synth sounds. Surkin sounds much more forceful on this one, with the sharp drums, claps and bass. Love the breakdown about a minute and 45 seconds in, where the song sounds like it battery quickly dies, then bang! Sonic assault. As I've said, you need to cop the guy's entire catalogue, Turntable Lab seems to be a great source for it. Or check the Arcade Mode store for the non-US people. I really can't wait to see what 2008 holds for the young man.