French Boutik - Les Chats de Goutierre

by Andy Cassidy

published: 12 / 10 / 2012

Label: Cepase Disques
Format: 7"

intro

Stunning 7 inch vinyl only debut single from French-based indie pop outfit, French Boutik

The moment I saw the cover artwork for this, French Boutik’s debut single, I knew I would love it. From the retro lettering to the shadowy photographs of the band, I knew that I was about to listen to something cool. Then, using my trusty schoolboy French, I translated 'Les Chats de Goutierre' to find that it means the Swinging Cats. Coolness, on a whole new level… Opening track, 'Les Chats de Goutierre', is a bright and breezy guitar driven little pop number, fairly bursting with Gallic cool. With an entrancing keyboard, a kicking beat a gorgeous vocal by lead singer Gabriela, the song is energetic, fresh and supremely melodic. 'La Vedette' continues in a similar vein, with a poppy sound reminiscent in places of The Rembrandts. Like its predecessor, the song is held together by a superb beat, and wings and struts in just the right way. Turning over to side B, 'Le Clope' is by far the coolest track on the single. Its vocal harmonies and fantastic keyboard line set it above the other three tracks – you can almost smell the Ricard and Gitanes wafting out of the stereo. Final track, 'The New Bossa', finds Gabriela singing in English in a superbly un-accented voice. The clarity of Gabriela’s voice works superbly within the framework of the band’s sound, and brought to mind Stuart Murdoch’s side-project God Help the Girl. For a four track set, this little single is a cracker. Fresh, punchy and, above all, chic, never has French pop sounded quite so good. This single is to French pop what 'A Bout de Souffle' was to French cinema. Quite simply, it’s stunning.