Various - POP Volume #1

  by Geraint Jones

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

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Compiled and released by the people behind French based website www.popnews.com, the simply entitled Popvolume # 1, which is limited to just 600 copies, features 15 tracks by some of its contributors favourite artists, most of which are either rare or previously unreleased. Founded in 1998 and now updated once a week the philosophy of the writers at Pop News seems to be similar to our own in that they prefer to concentrate and profile music by artists whose music they actually enjoy, which makes a pleasant change. Whilst concentrating on French artists and most written in French the site also features regular reviews and features on other artists and when they are English-speaking then the articles will be featured on the site in both English and French. The site is hoping to be totally bilingual by next year and is well worth a visit. The artists featured on the CD cover a diverse area in terms of geography and whilst predominantly of an introspective, melancholy and semi-acoustic nature there are a few tangents to this that help to keep listeners both engaged and entertained if the quieter moments aren’t entirely your kind of thing. Amongst the highlights for me are the opening track ‘Knowing You Were Loved’ by Australian band The Apartments who have long had a cult reputation in France but are less well known here in the UK. Peter Milton Walsh’s world weary voice, backed by guitar and piano, builds to a powerful crescendo and is a memorable opener that you’ll want to return to again and again. Some of the French artists featured, all new to me, provide some of the most interesting material; Burzinski whose ‘L’amertume’ is both broody and subtly menacing in equal measure; Steph Sonatone, apparently influenced by Sparklehorse and The Lemonheads, whose ‘Toufland’ offers a Gallic slant on chugging fuzz pop and finally William Pears who provide my favourite track on the album ‘Big Bang’. Sung in English and not sounding at all French they sound to me like Tommy Keene fronting Steve Jones post-Pistols band The Professionals. It’s an absolute belter and demands that you immediately turn the stereo up to wall-shaking volume and leap around like a teenager (even if like me you’re theoretically someway past that stage!). Elsewhere, the tracks by Americans, Edith Frost, Idaho and Willard Grant Conspiracy, and both Dakota Suite and Saloon from the UK, are fast becoming favourites. As with many compilations and the often subjective nature in which they are compiled, the chances of actually liking everything featured are rare and whilst that’s also the case here, the tracks I enjoyed far outweigh those that I didn’t care for so much. I look forward to Volume # 2, which is tentatively scheduled for release in December and hope that that will similarly reveal some exciting, new artists alongside some other well-chosen contributions from better known artists. I’ll also make sure I that have a regular look at the website from now on as well.

Track Listing:-

1 Apartments : Knowing You Were Loved
2 Ashtray : Permanent Change
3 Briab : She Takes You Away
4 Burzinski : I'Amertume
5 Dakota Suite : When Skies Are Grey
6 Edith Frost : Follow
7 Idaho : Evolution Is Cold
8 Lenola : I hide Behined
9 Paloma : Let's Sign For
10 Saloon : Conquistador
11 Splinter : Besides
12 Steph Sonotone : Toufland
13 Vera Clouzot : l' Orange
14 Willard Grant Conspiracy : Sunday Morning Coming D
15 William Pears : Big Bang

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