Bonjour! Are you addicted to Malajube’s new album yet? You can watch them perform five songs offLabyrinthes, including the single “Les collemboles” on the bande a part website. While you’re there check out Duchess Says’ session as well! Dumas is finally back with a new and, may I add, magnificent album:Rouge. You can listen to “Quelque part”, “Le son de vos voix” and “Un train dans la nuit” on his MySpace. For this blog, I decided to go all thematic on you guys. These are the current contestants for the 13th edition of Les Francouvertes, a contest for indie French-speaking bands that takes place every year at Lion D’or. I handpicked la creme de la creme for your listening pleasures.

Lila dit ca

Lila dit ca is a book by the mysterious Chimo. Just like the author of the book, these guys are fine masters of their art. Every harmony, every lyric and tiny sound is there for a reason which is, in my opinion, what makes the greatest songs. It takes you back to the sole pleasure of listening to music, getting lost in the guitar riffs and cymbal thumping. They’ve been compared to the Velvet Underground and Black Lips. A very enjoyable and addictive band, listen without moderation. No but seriously, click the link; you’ll be glad you did.

MySpace: www.myspace.com/liladitca

Lac Estion

What started as a temporary La Raisin Secte side project became an EP and the EP became an album. Lac Estion’s music was meant to be a Christmas present for a girl guitarist PA Brochet (also of Le Roi Poisson) he was pretty fond of. Unfortunately, the girl dumped him because he spent more time working on the EP than with her. We were left with this collection of airy guitar driven songs sprinkled with a dash of bitterness. Lac Estion is by far the best thing that ever got out of a bad break-up. Think Bon Iver and Broken Social Scene’s handsome French lovechild. They are launching their very first record, called Affranchi, tomorrow at Divan Orange. More information on their MySpace.

MySpace: www.myspace.com/lacestion

On a cree un monstre

This pop/rock trio began “creating the monster” back in 2006 in Montreal via Sorel. They recorded their first EP with the help of music master Renaud Bastien (Malajube, Coeur de Pirate) back in 2008. Their song “Dorval”, a hate letter to Dorval airport (Oh Dorval I hate you/An airplane takes off and takes my heart with it), was a favorite on college radios and the demo landed a well deserved 26th position in the 2008 CISM (Universite de Montreal radio) top 50. They mix catchy vocal harmonies, fantastic melodies and danceable rhythms perfectly, resulting in instant hit songs for wise ears.

MySpace: www.myspace.com/onacreeunmonstre

Peppertree

You know when it’s -35C, there’s 20cm of snow at your doorstep and you lost all the love you had for Canada? Well, I think I got the solution. Peppertree made me dance like a 4 year old at Christmas while I was shoveling snow this winter. I would describe it as heart warming pop/rock coated with sugar. The song “Insecte” takes you back to Radiohead’s OK Computer with its beautiful arrangements. The vocals are often used as an additional instrument much like Malajube do, except you can actually hear Peppertree’s lyrics, which is a good thing. I think Peppertree might as well be my Malajube. Oh and they also sing in English.

MySpace: www.myspace.com/pptree
Where you can download several songs for free: http://www.peppertree.ws

Les Francouvertes’ finals will be held at Club Soda on April 27th. Lac Estion and Peppertree are still in the race. 2008′s winners, La Patere Rose, released their first record last week; you can hear 3 songs on MySpace. Have a good week lovelies!

Zut Alors,
Christine