Various - Compilation Electro

  by Laura Branch

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

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The French – they’re suave, they’re chic, they invented pain au chocolat – and for this I salute them. They also excel at making rather fine but largely ignored pop music, although fear not because “Face B” sees Q-tape Records bring together a collection of stylish electro pop treats from France and the rest of tip-top pop world. Not a hint of kitsch or the odd sidelong glance to the 1980s is to be found here; in fact, if there are any sidelong glances to be had then they’re staring seductively at the big collar cool of the 1970s. Imagine Shaft in bed with Bobby Gillespie and a synthesiser (metaphorically speaking of course) and you’re half way there. An enviable cool nonchalance is conveyed by Sonorama with “Phasing Tone”. Apparently, they sound like Stereolab (but then doesn’t everybody these days?) although they most certainly spent their “youf” listening to “Screamadelica”. The subtly smooth bass and hazy Ray Manzarek style keyboards repeat endlessly making this the kind of thing that should be listened to in your pied-à-terre in Islington; Nokia 3310 in one hand, “Sleaze Nation” in the other. Yuppie Flu follow suit with another mantra-like instrumental. Layer upon layer of keyboards make you feel as if you’re flying through the stars with The Jetsons' at a sedate warp speed ten, while passing Clangers whistle in a disturbingly distorted manner. And while we’re whizzing through the heavens, The Sensualists make delightfully dreamy space age pop with a slice of funk, “Bedtime for Frances” which is very sweet and understated, and likely to induce a lovely toasty warm sleep. Mmmm. Nestling alongside such laid back pop is a hearty slice of retro futurism. Vertigo Quartet combine low budget sci-fi a la Lost In Space with pooter consoles like an old 8-bit Nintendo backed up by much plinking on the keyboards (ah c’mon you know what I mean!, )giving the overall effect of an instrumental fable about “The Snake and The Cactus”. Orange Cake Mix however, sample what sounds like Ritchie from “Happy Days” talking to one of those Open University type scientists, with big hair and an even bigger tie, about life on the Moon which will be “…a form of symbiosis between a fungi and a mineral…rather like a pointed stone cabbage.” Er, indeed. The absolute highlight of the album though is provided by Cinema with an imaginary film soundtrack in the form of “Getting Away With It”. With it’s fantastically funky drumbeat and almost menacing keyboards, if this doesn’t make you want to get up and groove then you ain’t got not rhythm! It’s certainly befitting of any wonderfully politically incorrect Bond film – much plotting and intrigue, and, of course, cocktails, and girls in bikinis. So, “Face B”, for aspiring hep cats everywhere. Down yer absinthe (or your latté), and while you’re half wrecked, listen to this.

Track Listing:-

1 Figurine : New Mate
2 Remington Super 60 : Jessica
3 Sonorama : Phasing Tone
4 Micromars : French Fi
5 Yuppie Flu : Stolen Boat, Sinking Thief
6 Chico Ben : Harmonies Electroniques
7 Cinema : Getting Away With It
8 Orange Cake Mix : Pointed Stone Cabbage
9 Melmac L Kiki
10 Lali Puna : Superlotado
11 Vertigo Quartet : The Snake And The Cactus
12 Sensualists : Bedtime For Frances
13 Club 8 : My Heart Won't Break
14 Milano : Simul Sync

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