More or less this was the concept behind Nouvelle Vague. Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux envisioned a band that would retain the basic harmony of new wave, punk and gothic songs, converting them to a bossa nova ( = new wave = nouvelle vague ) style, sung by performers who had never heard the original piece before.
The result was surprisingly beautiful to say the least. Sensuous female voices were caressing the words of punk & goth anthems like "Too drunk to fuck" by The Dead Kennedys, "The Guns of Brixton" by The Clash, "Bella Lugosi's Dead" by Bauhaus, "Love will tear us apart" by Joy Division etc., while the bossa nova minimality gave an entirely new perspective on each song's particular harmony and character.
Yesterday, they appeared live on stage at Gagarin 205, which is noted for its particularly interesting choices in live performances and theme festivals.
Mélanie Pain and Gerald Toto were the only vocal performers to appear (usually Mélanie Pain appears with Phoebe Killdeer), however they covered the whole range of songs exceptionally (since Gerald Toto's voice is particularly suited to the Nouvelle Vague style).
By the end the audience was ready to sing at the top of their lungs "Love will tear us apart" (as long as we were not "too drunk to fuck..." ).
All in all it was a wonderful night (still miffed about their not playing Bella Lugosi's dead" though) and what particularly remains is how sweet, vibrant and unique Mélanie is.
As long as we fall in love with the right persons, everything will be all right....You spurn my natural emotions
You make me feel like dirt
and I'm hurt...
And if I start a commotion
I run the risk of losing you
and that's... worse...
Ever fallen in love with someone you shouldn't have fallen in love with?
(Ever fallen in Love, orig. by The Buzzcocks
cov. from Bande à Part, 2nd Nouvelle Vague album)
PS : And a note of the surreal: Sticker on a toilet water tank at the toilets of the club: "Against any kind of sexual self-management" (and the shadow of my finger..)
2 comments:
u had to mention the magical moment of "in a matter of speaking"..
keep writing, give us light...
george K.
In time I will post something exclusively about that song. It touches several sensitive chords, George.
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