SHREM'S SPECIAL: THE RETURN OF THE BIG BALLAD [Juliette Armanet + M83 feat. Susanne Sundfør + Kadhja Bonet]

Very unlike the sounds you normally find on my carousel of tunes, I'd like to dedicate this special one-off post to the good old-fashioned ballads. All three tracks I have selected for you are actually new but they're all paying exquisite homages to the golden eras of 1970's and 80's song-writing and balladry. Epic, big, irresistibly melodic and charmingly kitschy these 3 gems will take you on a bizarrely sentimental journey.

I have first come across Juliette Armanet on "Colette French Kiss" - jewel of a compilation, filled with up and coming French talents. Armanet's delicious slice of electro pop "L'amour en Solitaire", produced by the mighty Yuksek, was an instant favourite. Now the Parisian Pop mermaid returns, beguiling us with her angelic voice even more, with a Chanson Française à la vintage "Manque d'amour" which announces the release of her brand new EP "Cavalier Seule". This classic French Pop composition with subtle yet sumptuous production left me astounded. Françoise Hardy meets Air.

M83's latest album "Junk" seems to have divided not only their fanbase but the whole blogosphere. I have been completely enchanted by its concept and spectacular guest appearances. While "Time Wind" featuring Beck may be the catchiest moment on the entire album it's the magnificent collaboration with Norway's prime synth-pop diva Susanne Sundfør that stole the show for me. Accompanied by Sundfør's flawless vocal performance, the saxophone laden, wondrously camp "For The Kids" really does reminisce some obscure 80's lost classics. Irresistibly nostalgic and intentionally tacky.

"Remember The Rain" is a marvellous, richly arranged ballad from Los Angeles jazz vocalist Kadhja Bonet. The self-released single brought back some 70's vibes, intricate and generous string arrangements, timeless key changes and sophisticated melody hooks, delicately echoing Barbra Streisand's "Woman In Love". Heavenly.

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SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "De la Vitesse à l'Ivresse" /// "Il n'y a pas d'Amour Heureux" - POOM

There are numerous genres, styles and musical niches I am particularly fond of. I do have a special love for classic Egyptian music for example, Italo disco, balkan beats, post punk, late 80's house, 90's R&B, rare grooves, mambo, cumbia, nu disco, freestyle, Scandinavian synth-pop, electronica, oldskool Hip Hop, Central Asian pop... The list is very long and eclectic. I also adore Chanson Française in its full and rich tradition but when contemporary musicians borrow from the classic French Pop it tickles my fancy enormously. I have fallen in love with Cinema and Exotica in the past few years and have recently properly discovered another Parisian duo POOM. The sensual "De la Vitesse à l'Ivresse" is a string laden, rich composition paying a lush vintage hommage to the greatest French songs of the decadent 60's and 70's. Camille Ferrera et Siegfried de Turckheim fit in splendidly somewhere between the classic Françoise Hardy and Air's dreamy first two albums. The upbeat "Il n'y a pas d'Amour Heureux" is a glorious electro pop rendition of Louis Aragon's poem which became Georges Brassens' hit all the way back in 1953. Formidable!

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