La Femme – Psycho Tropical Berlin (Born Bad Records)
“Psycho Tropical Berlin” is the debut from La Femme,
who formed in Biarritz around the nucleus of Sacha Got’s keyboards and Marlon
Magnée’s guitars. The line-up has expanded since the first EP of 2010 to
include Sam Lefevre (bass), Noé Delmas (drums), Clémence Quélennec (vocals),
Clara Luciani, Jane Peynot and Marilou Chollet. The title for the album quite
perfectly captures the essence of the album: upbeat electro-psychedelic pop,
with Krautrock and new-wave tendencies, with a splash of surf rock.
“Antitaxi” (a pro – bus diatribe) liaises between
the angular anguish of Joy Division and the absurdist end of Devo. From
thereon Quélennec’s lead gives inherent 1960s yé-yé zeal to the energetic
grooves. Featured singles include the Bardot / Gainsbourg flavoured
"Hypsoline", the propulsive, "Packshot", and the funky
fairground pop of "Nous Etions Deux" - some nice videos for which can
be found on YouTube.
Other highlights are the cool “Interlude” which is
as vintage as it is widescreen, and the amazing centrepiece, “It’s Time to Wake
Up 2023”, crosses Laurie Anderson’s repetitive “O Superman” motif with a Velvets
/ Modern Lovers two-chord organ mantra, before the electric sitar joins in.
An enthusiastic, vibrant LP, which I’d recommend to
those that enjoy Django Django, or French contemporaries, Concrete Knives.
Willsk
La
Femme – Packshot
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