Vibes4YourSoul 2016 Favorites

Welcome to Vibes4YourSoul 2016 Favorites, an incomplete revisit of the records that inspired me most this year. In this selection, you'll find a healthy dose of eclectic vibes from all over the world, edging from nu-jazz, to indie, pop, folk,  hip-hop, lo-fi & electro.

It comes with a special chill podcast focusing on the "non-dancefloor" releases mentioned, plus a few extras (tracklisting below, dwlnd link here).

I hope you'll enjoy the journey,


Jm / Vibes4YourSoul




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 ALBUMS / LPs
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Thomas Cohen - Bloom Forever

(Indie, Folk / Stolen Recordings) 

Written in the wake of a personal tragedy (the brutal passing away of his wife), Thomas Cohen debut solo album echoes the best hours of 70's melancholic rock. A flawless orchestration built around slow rhythms and spacy guitars acts as a warm frame for his deep and touching voice (which reminds me of Suede's Brett Anderson in some way). The type of fluid record that almost immediately sounds like a long-time companion.
listen



Melanie De Biasio - Blackened Cities
(NuJazz / PIAS Records) 

A fascinating one-track, 25mn-long record, built as a deep techno set, Blackened Cities is also the fusion of one of the most gifted & creative Jazz singer of her generation, into the notes of a handful of trusted talented musicians. If the words "musical journey" means something, this must be it.
listen

Frank Ocean - Blond(e)
(R&B,NuSoul / Boys Don't Cry Records) 

4 years after the beautiful Channel Orange, another home-run from the young R&B UFO Frank Ocean. A nostalgic moment tainted with lo-fi shades of folk & soul, supported by a remarkable singing achievement. 
listen

Bon Iver - 22, A Million 
(Indie, Folk / Domino Records) 

A musical rebirth following a deep depressive period for band leader Justin Vernon, 22, A Million blends the band's sublime melodic signature, to an addictive mysterious atmosphere distilled by an innovative homemade vocoder.
listen

Blood Orange - Freetown Sound
(Electro-Pop, Indie, R&B / Domino Records) 

An unclassifiable artist, London-based Dev Hynes offers another fascinating musical experiment with his third LP as Blood Orange. Melancholic pad synths & Dev's majestic voice act as a common denominator for 17 ethereal tracks smelling something like futuristic soul with an indie-flavored pop accent. As chaotic as his compositions may sometimes sound, you'll easily get carried away by the warmth of the ensemble.
listen

A Tribe Called Quest - We Got It From Here...Thank You For Your Service 
(Hip-Hop / Epic Records) 
When a record has been rumored and hoped for so long, when the band in question is nothing short of legendary, there's this lingering "will they spoil the myth?" type of fear. Well...they didn't, and the 90's Golden age of Hip-Hop got a fast forward ticket to the 21st century.
listen



Lee Fields & The Expressions - Special Night
(Soul / Big Crown Records)

Still brilliantly supported by his band The Expressions, Lee Field's voice seems immune to the passage of time. Classic soul ballads, funkier moments, he still does it all in 2016, as back in the day. A delightful old-school soul/funk journey.
listen




Whitney - Light Upon The Lake
(Folk, Indie / Secretly Canadian Records)

Unpretending soulful folk melodies, a sweet falsetto voice singing love stories, a laid-back melancholic atmosphere...US indie duo Whitney do not reinvent anything there, but their debut LP flows naturally...and it simply feels good.
listen

BadBadNotGood - IV
(Nujazz, Hip-Hop / Innovative Leisure Records) 

Pursuing their exciting journey in the worlds of NuJazz, Hip-Hop & Soul, the Canadian trio, now quartet, delivers its best record so far, retaining the fresh live-like sound from their debuts, while adding some wonderful vocal featurings & high standards studio quality to the mix.
listen

DIIV - Is The Is Are

(Indie Rock / Captured Tracks Records) 

17 tracks, 17 great shoegaze infused indie anthems. If hazy effects still surround Zacharie Cole vocals, their presence is less pronounced than on the band acclaimed debut release Oshin, a successful evolution for the Brooklyn band which confirms its talent.
listen



Ablebody - Adults Contemporary
(Indie, Pop / Lollipop Records) 

Bright, shimmering and nostalgic at the same time, Ablebody debut album is a perfect example of a "dream pop" wave that keeps getting bigger year after year. The twin brothers from LA master the art of designing crystal clear synths & guitars-led melodies, dressed-up with delicate ethereal vocals.
listen

Flamingods - Majesty
(World, Jazz, Pop / Soundway Records) 

A multicultural collective blending Arabic and UK roots, Flamingods' sound transcends genres to create an exotic melting-pot hard to describe. Entering the jungle of Majesty is plunging into a luxurious atmosphere where disorientation is the new normal.
listen




Nicolas Jaar - Sirens
(Electro, Downtempo / Other People Records)

One step further in the experimental & disorientation kind, the new LP from Nicolas Jaar is also a true concept LP. More than a collection of amazing sound textures, Sirens is an ambitious electronic symphony, where new doors open after each new listening experience.
listen

Carlos Niño & Friends- It's All Happening

(NuJazz, Downtempo / Leaving Records) 
Also very much "experimental", It's All Happening is a Yogi-style cosmic Jazz experience and a condensed version of Carlos Niño intense creativity. Think Alice Coltrane, The Doors most cuckoo-land moments. Track-by-track zapping not recommended: if you really wanna open this gate to sweet transcendental meditation, you need to immerse yourself in the whole record, it's all happening here!
listen

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 EPs / Beat Tapes (more electro-centric)

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Photay - Sadie EP
(Downtempo / Astro Nautico Records) 

A feelgood EP filled with lush sounds textures, dreamy keyboards and joyful grooves confirming the talent of this young American producer.
listen

Mocky - The Moxtape Vol. III
(Downtempo, Pop / Domino Records)

The splendid third batch of Mocky's "Moxtape" series, gathering more of his signature dreamy moments, made of sweet piano and bells-led melodies.
listen

Moscoman & Red Axes - Dikembe Manutu & Rage In The Cage EP
(House, Techno, Nudisco / ESP Records)
Israeli duo Red Axes have been resonating more and more loudly with me these last few months. Their techno sound is also delicately groovy, and fits well in my nudisco-oriented DJ sets. Among the many great releases from them this year, I picked this excellent deep slo-mo EP done with Berlin minimal producer Moscoman.
listen


Yuksek - Sweet Addiction EP
(Nudisco, Pop / Partyfine Records)

The hit single's groove is infectious, spiced up by a remarkable vocal featuring from Her. But that's not all, a slo-mo dub pearl and a downtempo version of Make It Happen,feat. Juveniles make this EP a perfect teaser for a soon-to-be released new album.
listen

Alex Gopher - Back To Basics EP
(House, Go 4 Music Records)
When I started DJing for fun, almost 20 years ago, Alex Gopher was one of my most trusted purveyors of fat French house sound. His come back hasn't made me feel any younger...but certainly almost as euphoric as back in the day, courtesy of an explosive EP that has been on heavy rotation in my sets all year-long.
listen



Voilaaa - On Te L'Avait Dit Remixes EP
(Nudisco, House / Favorite Recordings)

French producer Patchworks's Voilaaa afro disco project meets Dimitri From Paris remixing magic. Funny French lyrics, unstoppable percs, what a dancing machine!
listen

Lovebirds - The Hamburg Years Pt.2 EP
(Deep House, Nudisco / Teardrop Recordings)

German House producer Lovebids has been a core member of my house moments through his regular drop of groovy soulful mid-tempo house gems. This EP is a great example of his sound, the track National being one of my most-played track in 2016.
listen

Sirens Of Lesbos - I Got New Feelings Ep & Essays Vol#3 Ep
(House, Deep Techno / Armada Music & Exploited Records)

Will your resist the infectious slo-mo grooves from this Spanish collective oscillating between house and deeper tech-inspired beats.
listen

Alaia & GalloFeat. Kevin Hadden - Who Is He Ep
(House / Soul Heaven Records)
The timeless Bill Withers classic getting three quality house revisits courtesy of a powerful vocal performance by Kevin Hadden and producing skills of Alaia & Gallo, but also the inevitable Claptone as well as The Reflex, who definitely ranks high in my purveyors' list of amazing edits.
listen

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 EDIT of the year

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Delegation - Oh Honey (Poolside Edit) + Le Pamplemousse - Gimmie What You Got (Poolside Edit)

For the last three years, Californian DJs and producers Poolside have been my number one source of inspiration and quality as a DJ and producer. These two reworks are just another splendid example of their gift for refreshing forgotten grooves.
listen

Podcast Tracklisting:

Carlos Nino-Calimayan (feat. Nate Morgan & Yaakov Levy) / Mala-Sound Of The River (Feat. Sylvia Falcon) / Maylight - How Soon Is Now (The Smiths Cover) / Bon Iver-666? / Photay-Monday / Mocky-Exception To The Rule / Blood Orange-I Know / Frank Ocean-Pink+White (Feat. Beyoncé) / Kendrick Lamar-Untitled06 / Lee Fields & The Expressions-Special Love / Anderson Paak-Celebrate / A Tribe Called Quest-Whateva Will Be / BADBADNOTGOD-Times Moves Slow (feat. Sam Herring) / Whitney-No Woman / The Tibbs-The Story Goes / Thomas Cohen-Bloom Forever / Cass McCombs-Opposite House / Ablebody-Backseat Heart / DIIV-Bent (Roi's Song) / Melanie De Biasio-Blackened Cities / Flamingods-Majestic Fruit

David Bowie - Young Americans (V4YS All Night Edit)

Released in 1975, the Young Americans album was recorded in the US, where David Bowie was living at the time under the heavy influence of philly soul and early disco sounds.
On this record David surrounded himself with musicians from these scenes, most notably Puerto-Rican Guitarist Carlos Alomar, as well as Luther Vandross, who features on various side vocals.

If Fame is, well, the most...famous track of the LP (and David first true hit with the US audience), the song Young Americans is extremely groovy as well, with its anthem-like chorus hard to resist.

Here is my "DJ-friendly" drummed-up edit of it.

Note for the French-speaking readers: que vous soyez fan de Bowie ou simplement interessés par son parcours artistique, je vous recommande l'excellente série de 4 podcasts que l'émission "La Grande Traversée" de France Culture lui a récemment consacré. Une plongée passionnante dans ses multiples périodes et influences, mais aussi son processus de création. Disponible en podcast/streaming ici.

Beirut - No No No (4AD Records)

Still catching up with the numerous interesting post-summer releases, I have to recommend you the beautiful 4th LP from Beirut.

No No No will not surprise the fans of Zach Condon's band. It brings more of the same refreshing multicultural folk/pop sound we have become addicted to since his debut, almost 10 years ago.
So get ready for more Beirut-style stirring melodies turning into addictive grandiloquent horns-fuelled pop anthems. Get ready for more Beirut-style emotive roller coaster, left irrepressible joy, right sweet melancholy, rinse & repeat.

Yes, yes, yes, I want more!

A couple of extracts below:

Mocky - Key Change (Heavy Sheet Productions)

Released just before the summer, Mocky's fifth album, Key Change, is an enchanted interlude floating above the obsolete boundaries dividing downtempo, soul, jazz and pop.

All along this very cohesive record, the LA-based multi-intrumentalist and producer demonstrates his songwriting talent, as well as his knack for crafting cosy and poetic musical atmospheres.
Add to this the participation of some of my favorite nu-jazz and indie/folk artists like Miguel Atwood-Feguson, Gonzales and Feist, and you get a very special experience.

Feel-good-stamped LP!

A few extracts below:

Beach House - Depression Cherry (Sub Pop Records)

I often get overly excited by records...some kind of a classic music freak syndrom. Still, I know that time is the ultimate judge as to really know if my first wave of enthusiasm was misplaced, or not.
US indie/pop duo Beach House are a great example of this. After the initial delight provided by their 2010 and 2012 LPs (Teen Dream and Bloom), both have become more than fading great music memories to me. They're essential companions, core members of my iphone "desert island" playlist, more than validating my early craze.
Obviously, saying that I've been eagerly waiting for their new LP is an understatement.

And Depression Cherry is finally here! (on Sup Pop Records)
And I beg you not to mistrust my laudatory feedback as my early craze for this new album should also easily pass the time travelling test.
And, yes,  in just a few words, Victoria Legrand is still taking us to her nostalgic and dreamy world with her unique voice and style.
And Alex Scally is still designing fascinating anthemic musical landscapes, filled with high-flying keyboards waves and finely crafted electric guitars-led melodies.
And it's still great. Actually "great" is also an understatement, let's me rephrase this to "magic".
And I don't care if the band does not clear out new musical territories with Depression Cherries, cause I just feel so good in this place.
And I guarantee you will too.

Brett - Vacation / Dance Hall Days EP (Cascine Records)

Let's move back to the 80's, with Washington DC-based band Brett splendid covers of two overlooked tracks from The Go Go's & Wang Chung.

Is it me being too french, or will you also feel a parallel with Etienne Daho's classic song Tombé pour la France in their version of Dance Hall Days?

Anyway, enjoy this great contemporary synth pop EP with the streaming below:

Petit détour par les eighties, version pop, avec ce joli maxi du groupe américain Brett. Ils y reprennent deux titres oubliés de The Go Go's & Wang Chung pour l'excellent label Cascine.
Suis-je trop franchouillard lorsque je perçois des échos du Tombé pour la France dans leur cover de Dance Hall Days?

Vallis Alps - Vallis Alps EP (self-released)

Here is a beautiful electro/pop Ep from Australian duo Vallis Alps, evocating the recent productions of Californian band Rhye.

Released last month, it blends beautiful guitar-led melodies, ethereal synth waves to bewitching vocals. Deepness guaranteed!

Full streaming below:

Petite perle electro/pop du duo australien Vallis Alps, ce maxi n'est pas sans rappeler les productions récentes des californiens de Rhye. Superbes mélodies de guitare, joli travail sur les nappes de synthé, et vocals envoûtants. Deepness garantie!

Chassol - Big Sun (Tricatel Records)

Christophe Chassol's upcoming new project, Big Sun, is my first overwhelming artistic emotion of 2015.

After New Orleans (Nola Cherie) and India (Indiamore), the artist takes us closer to his familial roots, in Martinique island (French West Indies), for another poetic sensorial journey.

Affixing his piano/rhodes inimitable style, to the kaleidoscope of sounds and images he gathered during his 2014 stay on the island, Chassol plunges us into the heart of Madinina (as locals call their beloved Martinique), with its people and "heavenesque" wildlife taking centerstage.

A chorus of birds on a tree, a majestic grandma singing a sweet traditional local song, a young MC delivering a few rhymes, a percussion band jamming during the carnival...slices of life, a portrait gallery, becoming instruments through the artist's sampling & writing magic.

More than a vibrant love letter to a place and its community, Big Sun borders on the sublime as it spreads something universal. A feeling of humanity, that could not come at a better time after this tragic start of the year, and that reminds us why artistic creation is essential to life.

LP out March 9th on Tricatel...but full experience only felt live live, with the visuals. Check out his upcoming shows !
Trailers below, plus full live footage of Big Sun first gig last June in La Villette, courtesy of Arte Tv.

La présentation cette semaine à la Gaité Lyrique de Big Sun, nouveau projet de Christophe Chassol, fut ma première grande émotion artistique de 2015.

Après la Nouvelle-Orléans (Nola Chérie) et l'Inde (Indiamore), l'artiste nous invite dans ses Antilles, en Martinique, pour un nouveau voyage sensoriel, où musique et image sont les éléments indissociables d'une expérience poétique unique.

Plongée au coeur d'une Madinina authentique, offrant les premiers rôles à ses habitants et son Eden préservé. Un groupe d'oiseaux s'égosillent dans un arbre, une grand-mère fredonne une chanson traditionnelle sous l'oeil attendri de sa petite-fille, de jeunes MCs déclament quelques rimes, un groupe de percussionnistes déambule dans la fureur du carnaval...des tranches de vie, une galerie de portraits, devenus instruments, par la magie du sample, et la créativité sans bornes de ce pianiste de génie.

Au-delà d'une vibrante lettre d'amour à un lieu, et à sa communauté, Big Sun confine au sublime, car il distille quelque chose d'universel. Un sentiment diffu d'humanité, tombant à point en ce début d'année tragique, et qui nous rappelle aussi pourquoi la création artistique est essentielle à la vie.

Sortie officielle du disque le 09 mars sur Tricatel...mais expérience intégrale à vivre absolument en live, avec l'apport essentiel des visuels, ne ratez donc pas ses prochaines dates!

Un aperçu ci-dessus via deux trailers, et la retransmission intégrale d'ArteTv de la première représentation en Juin dernier à La Villette.

Lou Reed - Take A Walk On The Walk Side (Isaac Delusion Cover)

French electro/pop band Isaac Delusion are spreading some more dreamy vibes around, with this beautiful cover of Lou Reed's legendary Take A Walk On The Wild Side.

More generally, their 2014 self-titled LP is a remarkable electro/pop record. Highly recommended it if you havent checked it out already. They also just announced a gig date at the Olympia, in Paris, next Feb24th.

Vibes4YourSoul 2014 Favorites

Welcome to Vibes4YourSoul 2014 Favorites selection!

This annual rewind exercise will take you through many different musical directions, from the Indie/Folk/Pop scene, heavily represented this year, to the many shades of Jazz, Groove, Lo-fi & Electro. It comes with two special podcasts, where you'll retrieve scents of these picks...and a few extras. Hope you'll enjoy it!

Bonjour à tous, et bienvenue sur le blog pour cette sélection Vibes4YourSoul 2014 Favorites. 
Si la scène Indie/Folk/Pop y tient cette fois-ci le haut du pavé, vous y trouverez comme toujours bien d'autres univers musicaux, entre Jazz, Groove, Lo-fi ou Electro. En prime, deux mixtapes consacrées à ces coups de coeur, plus quelques extras! 

The War On Drugs - Lost In The Dream (Secretly Canadian)
Lost in the dream, somewhere between Dylan-esque moods and dark Springsteen-esque rumblings, The War On Drugs third LP will leave you in an ecstatic melancholic state.
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Troisième album de The War On Drugs, le bien nommé Lost In The Dream vagabonde entre atmosphères "Dylan-esques" et sombres échos "Springsteen-iens", pour nous laisser dans une forme d'exstase mélancholique confinant au sublime. 


Dan Croll - Sweet Disarray (Deram Records)
One of UK indie/pop scene finest voices, Dan Croll is also a great songwriter. Blending rejoicing anthems and intimate acoustic ballads, his debut LP, Sweet Disarray, is an addictive refreshment.
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L'une des plus jolies voix de la nouvelle scène pop britannique, Dan Croll est aussi et surtout, un talentueux songwriter. Entre hymnes réjouissants et ballades acoustiques plus intimes, son premier album, Sweet Disarray, est une sucrerie addictive.

Chet Faker - Built On Glass (Future Classic)
Crossing his love for classic American Jazz & House sounds, Australian producer Chet Faker (aka Nick Murphy) came up with this incredibly soulful downtempo LP, where warm Rhodes lines and deep slo-mo beats rule the day. 
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Amateur des grandes heures du Jazz américain, tout en étant bien ancré dans les sonorités house du moment, le producteur australien Chet Faker jongle avec les lignes de Rhodes et les beats lancinants, pour signer cet album downtempo, où il fait bon se réfugier.


Nick Mulvey - First Mind (Fiction Records)
Former member of Portico Quartet, Nick Mulvey scores another massive winner with this solo adventure. An intimate folk record, First Mind is tainted with subtle world-music rhythmic influences, adding to its inspiring atmosphere.
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Ex-membre d'un des groupes nu-jazz les plus novateurs du moment, Portico Quartet, Nick Mulvey réalise un nouveau sans-faute via ce splendide projet solo. Disque folk intimiste, First Mind se nourrit aussi de subtiles influences rythmiques afro/caribéennes.


Damon Albarn - Everyday Robots 
(XL Recordings, Parlophone)
Damon Albarn's "bridging-the-musical-dots" attitude at its best, with this magnificent solo LP, blending minimalist electro backbones, melancholic melodies, and joyful world music influences.
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L'éclectisme musical de Damon Albarn au firmament, avec ce premier album solo, associant cadres rythmiques électro minimalistes, mélodies mélancoliques et joyeuses influences world music. Magistral, rien que ça.

Mac DeMarco - Salad Days (Captured Tracks)
Third LP of Canadian guitarist Mac DeMarco, Salad Days may sound like a strange slo-motion indie demo at first, but quickly, you'll see yourself trapped in its relaxing atmosphere and absolute coolness.
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3ème disque du guitariste canadien Mac DeMarco, Salad Days peut passer au départ pour une étrange démo indé, qui tournerait au ralenti. L'atmosphère voluptueuse et délicieusement nonchalante qui s'en dégage le rend néanmoins rapidement indispensable.


Taylor McFerrin - Early Riser (Brainfeeder)
Another UFO from Flying Lotus' Brainfeeder label, Taylor McFerrin's debut album is filled with enticing futuristic soulful vibes, made of deep keyboards layers, finely crafted abstract beats, and warm vocals effects.
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Nouvelle perle de l'écurie californienne Brainfeeder, le premier album de Taylor McFerrin c'est un cocktail envoûtant, fait de splendides nappes de claviers, d'abstract beats déroutants et de chaleureux vocals. La Soul du futur?


Sun Kil Moon - Benji (Caldo Verde)
As depressing as it may sound, Sun Kil Moon (aka Mark Kozelec) sixth album is actually a formidable ode to life. A collection of touching portraits of people that counted in his life, through beautiful acoustic folk songs.
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Aussi déprimant qu'il puisse paraître, le sixième album de Sun Kil Moon (aka Mark Kozelec) s'avère une formidable ode à la vie. A travers de superbes chansons folk acoustiques, Mark offre une émouvante galerie de portraits de proches disparus. Une merveille d'écriture.


Zara McFarlane - If You Knew Her
(Brownswood Recordings)
A mesmerizing voice, a brilliant line-up of renewed young jazz musicians in support, with this faultless debut LP, Zara McFarlane definitely validates her ticket to the contemporary Jazz singers first class train.
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Une voix éblouissante, un ensemble de jeunes musiciens Jazz de renom...avec ce premier album, la chanteuse britannique Zara McFarlane entre par la grande porte dans le club des artistes les plus prometteurs de la scène nu-jazz contemporaine.

Real Estate - Atlas (Domino Records)
Third LP from New-Jersey indie trio Real Estate, Atlas rang a cool Teenage Fan Club bell with me, courtesy of its dreamy guitar-led melodies & ethereal vocals and atmosphere. An excellent indie moment.
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Troisième album du trio américain Real estate, Atlas a tout de suite évoqué pour moi les plus belles heures de Teenage Fan Club. On y retrouve le même genre d'envolées réjouissantes, faites de jolies mélodies de guitares électriques, et de vocals éthérés. Un très bon disque indie.

Ambient Jazz Ensemble - Suite Shop (Here & Now Recordings)
Surrounded by two nu-jazz references (pianist Neil Cowley & saxophonist Finn Peters), producer Colin Baldry wrote Suite Shop, an abstract jazz journey evoking the poetic world of Cinematic Orchestra.
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Entouré par deux références nu-jazz (le pianiste Neil Cowley et le saxophoniste Finn Peters), le producteur Colin Baldry est à l'origine de Suite Shop, qui n'est pas sans rappeler l'univers poétique de Cinematic Orchestra.

Fauve - Vieux-Frères Partie 1
(Fauve Corp / Warner)
Beautiful raw indie rock melodies, colliding with cutting spoken words, for a true concept album. Fauve collective's refreshing musical storm is also a refreshing live experience.
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Phénomène de l'année de la scène rock indé française, le collectif Fauve nous a offert une émouvante épopée scénique, concrétisée par ce concept album ,où l'on retrouve leurs textes finement ciselés, déclamés dans un style parlé-chanté déjà quasi culte.



Erlend Øye - Legao (Bibble Records)
Erlend Øye's latest musical peregrinations gave birth to Legao, a rejoicing record blending his pop songwriting talent, to the sound of Icelandic reggae band Hjálmar. Soothing melodies & an irresistible tropical feeling!
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Les nouvelles pérégrinations musicales d'Erlend Øye ont accouché du réjouissant Legao, où il associe son talent d'écriture pop au son ensoleillé du groupe reggae Islandais Hjálmar. Mélodies apaisantes et ambiances parfois tropicales au rendez-vous!


Bing Ji Ling - Sunshine For Your Mind (Self-released)
An overlooked NY-based underground producer/songwriter, Bing Ji Ling, revisits a wide range of pop/soul classics from the likes of Sade, Prince or Maze with his inimitable hippie soulful folk style. Covering is an art!

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Producteur & songwriter new-yorkais méconnu, Bing Ji Ling revisite dans son inimitable style soul/folk  une série de classiques pop/soul de Sade, Prince, ou Maze...Dur de résister à ce délicieux lifting aux accents hippie seventies.

Darius - Romance EP (Roche Music)
A few brilliant remixes & this splendid EP were enough material for French producer Darius to already set an easily recognizable dreamy slo-mo house signature. A definition of the "French Touch"?
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En l'espace de seulement quelques remixes et ce splendide maxi, le jeune producteur français Darius a déjà su forger une empreinte slo-mo House classieuse, aisément reconnaissable. C'est sans doute ça la définition de la "French Touch".

James Tillman - Shangri La EP
(self-released)
Beautiful mellow vibes from NYC-based singer/songwriter James Tillman. A true nu-soul gem!
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Entre nu-soul langoureuse et groove sensuel, le chanteur et songwriter James Tillman offre une impeccable revue de style, en l'espace d'un premier maxi à tomber.

Metronomy - I'm Aquarius (Claptone Remix) (Exploited Records)
I could have put Metronomy's great 2014 LP Love Letters in the LP section, but I think I'm even more into this massive house remix of the single I'm Aquarius by German producer Claptone.
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J'aurais pu inclure l'album Love Letters de Metronomy dans la section albums, mais je craque encore plus pour ce superbe remix house du single I'm Aquarius par le producteur allemand Claptone.

Baths - Ocean Deaths EP (Antcon)

Another round of fascinating sound textures from LA-based Baths, with this sweet lo-fi EP, well anchored in his local abstract beats scene.
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Une nouvelle tournée de textures sonores étonnantes offerte par le producteur californien Baths. Ce maxi lo-fi illustre à merveille la foisonnante scène abstract-beats californienne. 

The Alexanders - Pwoin Pwoin Pwoin (Partyfine)
Much dance-floor damage done this year by this massive house music track, courtesy of the Partyfine crew, led by Yuksek & Alex Metric (aka The Alexanders).
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Un titre house imparable de plus pour Partyfine, via son fondateur Yuksek et son compère Alex Metric, réunis sous l'alias The Alexanders.

Dr. Packer - Surgery Edits EPs series (Discodat Records)
Australian DJ & Producer Dr. Packer has been an amazing purveyor of hot nudisco edits this year. A truthful companion of my DJ Sets, his remarkable "Surgery Edits" series is remarkable.
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Le DJ & producteur australien Dr Packer a été un pourvoyeur infatigable en edits nudisco de qualité tout au long de l'année. Sa série de maxis, Surgery Edits, respire le groove.

Sven Weisemann - Falling Leaves EP (Fauxpas Musik)
Between Detroit-flavored deep techno and ambient/dub atmospheres, Berlin-based Sven Weisemann's music catches the essence of electronic music's "deepness". A splendid ambient track, Falling Leaves also benefits a great remix from Italian lo-fi/movie musician Gigi Masin.
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Connu pour ses excellentes productions deep techno façon Detroit, le Berlinois Sven Weisemann a offert cette année ce pur moment de deepness ambiante/dub, qui bénéficie aussi d'un très bon remix de l'italien Gigi Masin.


Ptaki - Kalina EP & other releases
(Young Adults Records)

Between their groovy slo-mo releases, and recent hot house EP (Kalina), Warsaw-based duo Ptaki is a name to follow.
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Entre quelques titres entre hip-hop, groove et slo-mo house et leur nouveau maxi Kalina, plus House, le duo de Varsovie Ptaki ne sort plus de mes DJ sets. Un duo à suivre de près.

Lone - Begin To Begin (R&S Records)

An interesting follow-up of his 2013 debut EP, Lone first LP Reality Testing is first and foremost home of this magnificent deep-house anthem.
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Une bonne extension de son excellent maxi de l'an dernier, le premier album de Lone, Reality Testing, est surtout l'écrin dans lequel on trouve cette merveille de titre deep house.



Lucas Chambon - Instinct EP & other remixes (self-released)
More cool French electro sounds with Lucas Chambon's debut EP & various brilliant remixes, spreading some slo-mo house magic around.
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Autre talent prometteur de la scène house française, Lucas Chambon s'est révélé cette année par ce très joli premier maxi, et plusieurs remixes deep-house à tomber.

Leon Vynehall - Music For The Uninvinted (3024 Records)
Brighton-based Leon Vynehall debut EP is all about deep & delicate electro landscapes. From ambient-like moments, to "housier" cuts, a soothing, but also energizing release.
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Le premier maxi du producteur britannique Leon Vynehall brille par sa diversité, et la délicatesse de ses atmosphères électro. A la fois apaisant et énergisant.

The Elder Statesman (& Lord Echo) -
Montreux Sunrise EP (Bastard Jazz)
A talented New-Zealand nu-jazz trio colliding with Lord Echo's downtempo's magical touch, for a perfect jazzy lounge moment.
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Une classieuse parenthèse jazz/lounge fruit de la rencontre d'un prometteur trio nu-jazz néo-zélandais et du magicien downtempo/dub Lord Echo.



Edits of the Year: 

Khemistry - I Can't Lose With The Stuff I Use (NBMD's Use The Stuff You Lose Edit)
You certainly can't lose with Norwegian producer NBMD offering a hot nudisco lifting to this 80's disco/boogie gem!
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Un remix nudisco explosif d'une perle disco/boogie 80's via le producteur norvégien NBMD. Un groove imparable!

Gilberto Gil - Toda Menina Baiana (Ashley Beedle Black Bahia's Rework)
Among the many great releases that celebrated the World Cup, my own personal fav comes from Ashley Beedle's slo-mo house rework of this Gilberto Gil's legendary anthem, part of Fatboy Slim's great "Bem Brasil" compilation.
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Année de coupe du monde au Brésil oblige, je me devais de conclure par un clin d'oeil à ce merveilleux pays de musique. Parmi les nombreuses perles sorties pour l'occasion, mon coup de coeur va à Ashley Beedle pour sa splendide version slo-mo house de ce titre éternel de Gilberto Gil.



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Mixtapes Tracklisting :

The Chill Part: NickMulvey-Cucurucu / TaylorMcFerrin-Florasia / Baths-Yawn / DamonAlbarn-You&Me / MacDeMarco-ChamberOfReflection / Fauve-Rag#4 / ChetFaker-ToMe / RealEstate-Crime / DanCroll-FromNowhere / ErlendØye-Rainman / TheElderStatesman-Trans-AlpineExpress / Photay-Supersuperficial / SunKilMoon-Ben'sMyFriend / DeBarge-ILikeIt(BingJiLing Cover) / TheWarOnDrugs-Disappearing / AmbientJazzEnsemble-TheJourney / JamesTilman-ShangriLa / ZaraMcFarlane-AngieLaLa / SvenWeisemann-FallingLeaves

The Dance Part: Darius-Espoir / Jupiter-JuicyLucy(CrayonRemix) / Hubbabubbaklubb-Mopedpart / GilbertoGil-TodaMeninaBaiana(AshleyBeedleRework) / CrystalFighters-LoveAlight(JeanToniqueRemix) / Metronomy-ImAquarius(ClaptoneRemix) / JessieJ-Domino(LucasChambonRemix) / Dr.Packer-Cranium(Prince) / AlexMetric&Oliver-Galaxy / Ptaki-Foxy / Nbmd-UseTheStuffYouLoose / JohnWizards-Muizenberg(The2BearsRemix) / TheAlexanders-PwoinPwoinPwoin / Lone-BeginToBengin / LeonVynehall-MusicForTheUninvited