Nouvelle Vague: New Wave Revived in Style.

Such a joy these guys are. See, I've recently picked up a CD from a pile sitting for quite some time on top of my desk. I was auditioning through some material for work. This one particular album from Nouvelle Vague was slid into the CD player. And being the 30-something child-of-the-80's that I am, I instantly fell in love with them.

This French Bossa Nova music act, whose name incidentally also translates to "New Wave", covers some of your favorite Punk and New Wave songs of the 80's. The band is basically run by two arrangers, Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux, but they have with them a troupe of chanteuses- eight of them, in fact (all French, except one from Brazil and another from New York)- so don't expect to hear the same voice for all the tracks.

Which gives the album a delightful element of variety and diversity. But why so many singers, you might ask. Surely, they could have gone with just one or two, perhaps. According to Wikipedia:

The various female singers on Nouvelle Vague only performed songs they were not previously familiar with, to ensure that each cover would have a unique quality.

Cool huh? I'm all for this- since it gives your favorite new wave faves a refreshing new twist. Not just a rearrangement with some vocals aping the original.

They've had three albums so far: The self-titled debut album in 2004, the more recent Bande A Part in 2006, and Late Night Tales that just came out this year.

My recommendations: Their cover of Billy Idol's Dancing With Myself- I think it got featured on Grey's Anatomy or something. Also their versions of Wishing (If I Had A Photograph), Killing Moon, Let Me Go and Making Plans For Nigel.


Discography: Nouvelle Vague

Nouvelle Vague (2004)

1. Love Will Tear Us Apart. Original by Joy Division.
2. Just Can't Get Enough. Everyone's favorite pop-dance track from Depeche Mode.
3. In a Matter of Speaking. Originally by Tuxedomoon.
4. Guns of Brixton. The Clash.
5. This Is Not A Love Song. Public Image Ltd.
6. Too Drunk To Fuck. The Dead Kennedys.
7. Marian. The Sisters of Mercy.
8. Making Plans For Nigel. This one was from XTC.
9. A Forest. The Cure.
10. I Melt With You. The definitive new wave single from Modern English.
11. Teenage Kicks. The Undertones.
12. Psyche. Killing Joke.
13. Friday Night Saturday Morning. The Specials.

Bande A Part (2006)

1. Killing Moon. Original by Echo & The Bunnymen.
2. Ever Fallen In Love. Covered from The Buzzcocks.
3. Dance With Me. Done originally by The Lords of the New Church.
4. Don't Go. The Pop-dance Anthem from Yazoo.
5. Dancing With Myself. Inspired by Billy Idol's Pop-dance hit.
6. Pride (In The Name of Love). U2.
7. O Pamela. The Wake.
8. Heart of Glass. Blondie.
9. Confusion. New Order.
10. Human Fly. The Cramps.
11. Bela Lugosi's Dead. Bauhaus.
12. Escape Myself. The Sound.
13. Shack Up. A Certain Ratio.
14. Let Me Go. Heaven 17.
15. Fade To Grey. Visage.
16. Waves. Blancmange.
17. Sweet and Tender Hooligan. One of The Smiths' lesser-known tracks.
18. Shack Up. A Certain Ratio.
19. Israel. Siouxsie & The Banshees.
20. Eisbar. Grauzone.
21. Moody. ESG.
22. Blue Monday. The club favorite from New Order.