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Another strange week ! My top ten seems a bit unusual, filled with moments, bursts of passion for some artists. This isn't this relevant for me, but for the statistics, yeah . . .

1. The Long Blondes - No way, first again... This week was low on the Long Blondes, but i get the new single on friday... i think i listened to it a lot !!
You don't know them . . . well, just listen !!

2. Serge Gainsbourg - He's simply the greatest french artist ever, a genius... music, lyrics, everything, between 1958 ans 1977, his discography is fantastic !! Just get a hold on it, for non-french, listen to his masterpiece Histoire de Melody Nelson

3. The Velvet Underground - Sunday evening, i watched a documentary on Andy Warhol, you can imagine what happened, yeah, i listen to the Velvet Underground all night long. A great band with a great songs. This could sound a little easy, but this is it !! One of the greatest band ever, you can't doubt it !

4. Minnie Riperton - Last.fm is about sharing tasteful music, one thing is sure, my friend SisterMidnight have hell of great tastes. She made me discover Minnie Riperton, a great soul artist with delightful songs. Her voice is awesome !!

4. The Strokes - Ok, as everybody knows, first impressions of earth has leaked on friday . . . it's a nice album with some great songs, they evolved, but it still The Strokes !! Undoubtly, The Strokes will supersede the Long Blondes next week !!

6. Test Icicles - Again, over and over, test icicles is still there, weeks after weeks, you already know they're huge, you already know i love them . . . go get their first album and listen to it !! That's an order !!

7. Guitar Wolf - Alright, their sound sucks a bit, their songs are easy . . . but they've got tremendous power, this is jet rock 'n roll . . . fast, loud, filled with beer !! Some might call it a sonic disaster . . . i call it the greatest japanese rock n roll band ever (with a vengeance)

8. The Gossip - Aother kill rock stars band, they've just release their new single . . . i listened to their first two albums, i would certainly qualified their sound as garage riot grrrl. well it's so cool . . . a new album for 2006, i can't wait !!

9. Wolfmother - this week is about wolfs... no, was kidding !! sorry, it's a bit late. well they're still in the top ten, i'm a bit surprised, i though i listen to their album only once . . . i guess i was wrong. it's time for them to say goodbye !

10. Siouxsie and the Banshees - Another post punk band, i love siouxsie so much, her voice is so addictive. Their songs are really great, their sound is just fantastic, it influenced a lot of the new post punk generation. if you don't know them, try at least their Once Upon a Time: The Singles, a great compilation of their 78-81 period !! Insane !!

Watoo Watoo is Pascale & Michaël. Michaël usually records new songs on his computer, calls friends to help with the guitars, and then asks Pascale to add her lovely voice. But Pascale is always busy doing something else, so Michaël often needs to ask her some time in advance.

Watoo Watoo latest release is le fumalin, in 2003. The songs are a capricious mix of pop dashed with jazz, bossa, or even chanson française, depending on the mood. It was released by Clover Records in Japan and on LeS DiSqUeS MaLaDrOiTs, the « home » label, for the rest of the world.

Watoo Watoo has about ten new songs ready for a new label. Among the four songs on the enclosed CD are a melancholic waltz, a pop song with 60’s orchestral arrangements, an electronic tune and even a funk number sounding like a 70’s movie soundtrack. Pascale’s soft voice and the apparent softness of the melodies pull everything together, stamping the Watoo Watoo brand on the entire production.

Short discography:
* Le fumalin, 13 tracks CD, 2003 (LeS DiSqUeS MaLaDrOiTs / France)
* Le fumalin, 13 tracks CD, 2001 (Clover Records/ Japon)
* Curiosités ?, 13 tracks compilation CD, 2000 (BBPTC/ USA)
* Picture of a Lost Friend, 6 tracks Cdep, 1999 (Radio Khartoum/ USA)
* Un Peu de Moi, 9 tracks Cdep, 1997 (BBPTC/ USA)
* Many appearances on compilations CD.
Although they have played few concerts (this is exhausting), the band played two Popfests (New York 1997, Paris 1998) and two concerts (one was radio broadcasted) in San Francisco in 1999. In 2004 the band was invited on TV7 Bordeaux, where 4 songs were recorded live for the TV station.


Watoo Watoo likes and may be inspired by: Astrud Gilberto, Belle & Sebastian, The Beatles, Blur, The Buzzcocks, Charles Trénet, The Cure, David Bowie, The Feelies, Felt, Iggy Pop, Julien Baer, Keren Ann, The Kinks, Lali Puna, 70’s soundtracks, Luna, The Pale Saints, Peter Astor, Serge Gainsbourg, Sergio Mendes, The Smiths, St Etienne, some jazz (Stan Getz, Keith Jarrett…), Tarwater, The Velvet Underground, The Wedding Present…

Watoo Watoo is Pascale & Michaël. Michaël usually records new songs on his computer, calls friends to help with the guitars, and then asks Pascale to add her lovely voice. But Pascale is always busy doing something else, so Michaël often needs to ask her some time in advance.

Watoo Watoo latest release is le fumalin, in 2003. The songs are a capricious mix of pop dashed with jazz, bossa, or even chanson française, depending on the mood. It was released by Clover Records in Japan and on LeS DiSqUeS MaLaDrOiTs, the « home » label, for the rest of the world.

Watoo Watoo has about ten new songs ready for a new label. Among the four songs on the enclosed CD are a melancholic waltz, a pop song with 60’s orchestral arrangements, an electronic tune and even a funk number sounding like a 70’s movie soundtrack. Pascale’s soft voice and the apparent softness of the melodies pull everything together, stamping the Watoo Watoo brand on the entire production.

Short discography:
* Le fumalin, 13 tracks CD, 2003 (LeS DiSqUeS MaLaDrOiTs / France)
* Le fumalin, 13 tracks CD, 2001 (Clover Records/ Japon)
* Curiosités ?, 13 tracks compilation CD, 2000 (BBPTC/ USA)
* Picture of a Lost Friend, 6 tracks Cdep, 1999 (Radio Khartoum/ USA)
* Un Peu de Moi, 9 tracks Cdep, 1997 (BBPTC/ USA)
* Many appearances on compilations CD.
Although they have played few concerts (this is exhausting), the band played two Popfests (New York 1997, Paris 1998) and two concerts (one was radio broadcasted) in San Francisco in 1999. In 2004 the band was invited on TV7 Bordeaux, where 4 songs were recorded live for the TV station.


Watoo Watoo likes and may be inspired by: Astrud Gilberto, Belle & Sebastian, The Beatles, Blur, The Buzzcocks, Charles Trénet, The Cure, David Bowie, The Feelies, Felt, Iggy Pop, Julien Baer, Keren Ann, The Kinks, Lali Puna, 70’s soundtracks, Luna, The Pale Saints, Peter Astor, Serge Gainsbourg, Sergio Mendes, The Smiths, St Etienne, some jazz (Stan Getz, Keith Jarrett…), Tarwater, The Velvet Underground, The Wedding Present…

Watoo Watoo is Pascale & Michaël. Michaël usually records new songs on his computer, calls friends to help with the guitars, and then asks Pascale to add her lovely voice. But Pascale is always busy doing something else, so Michaël often needs to ask her some time in advance.

Watoo Watoo latest release is le fumalin, in 2003. The songs are a capricious mix of pop dashed with jazz, bossa, or even "chanson française", depending on the mood. It was released by Clover Records in Japan and on LeS DiSqUeS MaLaDrOiTs, the « home » label, for the rest of the world.

Watoo Watoo has about ten new songs ready for a new label. Among the four songs on the enclosed CD are a melancholic waltz, a pop song with 60’s orchestral arrangements, an electronic tune and even a funk number sounding like a 70’s movie soundtrack. Pascale’s soft voice and the apparent softness of the melodies pull everything together, stamping the Watoo Watoo brand on the entire production.

Short discography:
* Le fumalin, 13 tracks CD, 2003 (LeS DiSqUeS MaLaDrOiTs / France)
* Le fumalin, 13 tracks CD, 2001 (Clover Records/ Japon)
* Curiosités ?, 13 tracks compilation CD, 2000 (BBPTC/ USA)
* Picture of a Lost Friend, 6 tracks Cdep, 1999 (Radio Khartoum/ USA)
* Un Peu de Moi, 9 tracks Cdep, 1997 (BBPTC/ USA)
* Many appearances on compilations CD.
Although they have played few concerts (this is exhausting), the band played two "Popfests" (New York 1997, Paris 1998) and two concerts (one was radio broadcasted) in San Francisco in 1999. In 2004 the band was invited on TV7 Bordeaux, where 4 songs were recorded live for the TV station.


Watoo Watoo likes and may be inspired by: Astrud Gilberto, Belle & Sebastian, The Beatles, Blur, The Buzzcocks, Charles Trénet, The Cure, David Bowie, The Feelies, Felt, Iggy Pop, Julien Baer, Keren Ann, The Kinks, Lali Puna, 70’s soundtracks, Luna, The Pale Saints, Peter Astor, Serge Gainsbourg, Sergio Mendes, The Smiths, St Etienne, some jazz (Stan Getz, Keith Jarrett…), Tarwater, The Velvet Underground, The Wedding Present…

Watoo Watoo is Pascale & Michaël. Michaël usually records new songs on his computer, calls friends to help with the guitars, and then asks Pascale to add her lovely voice. But Pascale is always busy doing something else, so Michaël often needs to ask her some time in advance.

Watoo Watoo latest release is le fumalin, in 2003. The songs are a capricious mix of pop dashed with jazz, bossa, or even chanson française, depending on the mood. It was released by Clover Records in Japan and on LeS DiSqUeS MaLaDrOiTs, the « home » label, for the rest of the world.

Watoo Watoo has about ten new songs ready for a new label. Among the four songs on the enclosed CD are a melancholic waltz, a pop song with 60’s orchestral arrangements, an electronic tune and even a funk number sounding like a 70’s movie soundtrack. Pascale’s soft voice and the apparent softness of the melodies pull everything together, stamping the Watoo Watoo brand on the entire production.

Short discography:
* Le fumalin, 13 tracks CD, 2003 (LeS DiSqUeS MaLaDrOiTs / France)
* Le fumalin, 13 tracks CD, 2001 (Clover Records/ Japon)
* Curiosités ?, 13 tracks compilation CD, 2000 (BBPTC/ USA)
* Picture of a Lost Friend, 6 tracks Cdep, 1999 (Radio Khartoum/ USA)
* Un Peu de Moi, 9 tracks Cdep, 1997 (BBPTC/ USA)
* Many appearances on compilations CD.
Although they have played few concerts (this is exhausting), the band played two Popfests (New York 1997, Paris 1998) and two concerts (one was radio broadcasted) in San Francisco in 1999. In 2004 the band was invited on TV7 Bordeaux, where 4 songs were recorded live for the TV station.


Watoo Watoo likes and may be inspired by: Astrud Gilberto, Belle & Sebastian, The Beatles, Blur, The Buzzcocks, Charles Trénet, The Cure, David Bowie, The Feelies, Felt, Iggy Pop, Julien Baer, Keren Ann, The Kinks, Lali Puna, 70’s soundtracks, Luna, The Pale Saints, Peter Astor, Serge Gainsbourg, Sergio Mendes, The Smiths, St Etienne, some jazz (Stan Getz, Keith Jarrett…), Tarwater, The Velvet Underground, The Wedding Present…

The remix album has become one of my favourite ways to meet new artists. Usually better than label compilations, remix album fall into two general categories: 1) A collection of one artist remixing many other artists' songs; or 2) A collection of several artists mixing one artist's song. A third category also exists, though it's more of a compilation concept: 3) A collection of several artists mixing several other different artists' songs. Stereolab came up with a fourth possibility in Chinese Whispers, which had Stereolab remixing a T. Power remix of a Subtropic remix of a Si Begg remix of a Bedouin Ascent remix of a Slang remix of a Freeform remix of a Mu-Ziq remix of a Ultramarine remix of a Sons of Silence remix of a Stereolab idea.

dZihan And Kamien have come up with something else - a hybrid of the remix album and the cover or tribute album. Fakes is a two-disc collection, with the first disc collecting D&K's remixes of other artist's work (a Type 1 remix album), and a second disc with The Brut Imperial Quintet doing acoustic jazz versions of D&K songs. The concept is fun and will probably sell a lot better than the two discs on their own would, similarly to the packaging of the various Verve Remixed/Unmixed collections.

Disc one has remixes of Billy Holiday, Nitin Sawhney, Tosca, Serge Gainsbourg, and Atjazz, among others. All are remixed in typical D&K downbeat jazzy breaks style, combining trip hop, nu-jazz, broken beat. The collection is very consistent and good, but without any real highs to speak of. One disappointing thing is that I already had 4 of these 12 remixes which were contained on other compilations.

As a result, the real value in this collection came from the second disc, which has 10 inspired acoustic jazz covers of songs from D&K's first two albums. The arrangements mirror the originals but take the songs into new territory. The playing is tight and tasteful, beautifully recorded and mixed.

A particular standout for me is Drophere, which replaces the original D&K vocal hook with a mournful trumpet line. It's played as a slow bossa, sparsely but wonderfully arranged for tenor sax, trumpet, piano, acoustic bass and drums. This is beautiful combo jazz in the Blue Note tradition - well worth checking out.

My overall verdict: Four stars. A good hybrid of remix and cover/tribute albums.

Saturday night I was invited to a party in a very remote location way outside Cincinnati. I had some time on my hands, so I stopped at a Goodwill store on the way to look at records. I think I hit the vinyl mother lode of the east Dayton region. This is one reason I got a record player--these stores have lots of worthless CDs and just as many vinyl gems. I limited myself to ten records, though apparently I miscounted and only got nine for under ten dollars. In no order:

Michel Legrand & His Orchestra - Brian's Song: Themes and Variations
Leonard Bernstein - Rhapsody in Blue/An American in Paris (George Gershwin)
Enoch Light - Big Band Bossa Nova
Nat "King" Cole - The Very Thought of You
Mancini Moods at Christmastime
Stevie Wonder - Talking Book
A&M Records - Million Dollar Sound Sampler
Various artists - The Many Moods of Christmas
Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass - Whipped Cream & Other Delights

I'll probably return soon for the ten or twenty jewels I left behind, including some vintage Elton John and Simon & Garfunkel! I had already bought a few jazz records on eBay as well as Skalpel's debut, and now I have a small vinyl collection that I can be proud of.

My new favorite blog is spikedcandy.blog-city.com. This young lady in Australia has impeccable taste, and she's my newest on-line friend. I joined her new Serge Gainsbourg group, and she joined my new Jarvis Cocker group. Life is good.




Michel LegrandLeonard BernsteinGeorge GershwinEnoch LightNat King ColeHenry ManciniStevie WonderHerb Alpert's Tijuana BrassElton JohnSimon & GarfunkelSkalpelSerge GainsbourgJarvis Cocker