Les Chats de Gouttière
copaseDisques 7 " / download
The debut EP from French-American mod-poppers comes in a striking beautiful sleeve. The simple ideas are often the best.
The title track translates as 'The Alley Cats' but there's nothing dirty and common about this blast of hyper-melodic sunshine Hammond Ye-Ye pop. Vocalist Gabriela sounds as cool as you like. 'La Vedette' ('The Star') is a bittersweet sounding romp about war, with a glam rock/Kinks guitar stomp driving the beat, only to be cut-up by moody interludes à la Blur. I bet it sounds excellent live in concert.
On the flipside 'Le Clope' ('Cigarette', well actually 'Gasper') is a funny story of smoking where you should not, set to plentiful 'Ba Ba Ba's and sat on a bedrock of Ian McLagan/Booker T-styled organ. It's late-60s, hippy Brian Auger Trinity fare you may say. It's pure happy music for the uncynical amongst you too. Finally the one English sung tune, 'New Bossa', is ironically the least interesting number, sounding a bit forced and slight, in spite of some lovely harmonising.
This Parisian quintet are definitely ones to watch. A full album by them would no doubt be great...but for now, buy this!
This Parisian quintet are definitely ones to watch. A full album by them would no doubt be great...but for now, buy this!
Phil Istine
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