Paris Voice New Music Beat by Neil Atherton

Olaf’s Last Laugh
Olaf Hund’s debut album showcases the latest wave of experimental electronica from Paris-based label Musiques Hybrides.

“Kitch Kitch” is one of those records that you’d play at a party expecting a reaction. But not the kind of reaction Olaf Hund has in mind. “At any party,” observes the Franco-German producer, “you always end up in the kitchen. It’s where people can eat food and talk.” Logical thinking, but this is not your standard soirée. “The ultimate party is to take everything from the fridge and throw it on the walls and have a food fight. The next day you have to clean up — that is both sides of the Kitch Kitch story.” So, one half of the album is named after yogurt flavors (Goût Cerise), while the other devotes itself to dishwashing liquid (Dégraisse et tue les bactéries). Hmm. This may sound a little silly, but it’s in fact a social comment on Western consumerism and today’s throw-away society. The tracks themselves are consumable in the sense that each one is indexed (there are 32 in all), so you can skip to the part you like, thus hiding the length of the song. Olaf explains: “All the tracks are based on the unknown. It’s like a party — the best ones are always a surprise. Every track is different in style and tempo, but they all have the same state of mind. It’s funny but at the same time serious.” Tupperware parties will never be the same again. “Kitch Kitch” out March 5 on Musiques Hybrides/Delabel.

Heavy Metal The devil’s music makes its comeback in March with big-league banner-wielders Sepultura unleashing their new LP “Nation” (Mar 20) and Terrorvision revealing “Good To Go” (Mar 12). Macabre metallers Deicide are in the studio recording their follow-up to “Inseratehymn” as are Machine Head, whose next album “Supercharger” is being produced by Johnny K.

SPOR “Is Today Tomorrow?” (Atmosphériques) French metal outfit debut with a semi-acoustic trip to the uncharted side of rock. “NPB” is one of the finest songs of its genre — showing Limp Bizkit et al how to make funky, rocking riffage sound intelligent. Mar 27

Aerosmith “Just Push Play” (Columbia) Less metal, more glam-rock, Steve Tyler and Joe Perry are back with their first record in four years. They’ve sold 100 million albums in their 25 year career, so that means 16 million albums during their four year hiatus. 16 million multiplied by $15 per CD equals $240 million. No wonder it took them so long. Mar 13

Daft Punk “Discovery” (Daft Life/Labels) The duo who’s first Clash-inspired effort at making music earned them a review in Melody Maker (who called them a “bunch of daft punks”) finally release new long-player “Discovery.” And it’s just that: disco very. Straying away from the pure 303 adrenaline of 1997’s “Homework,” ’70s and ’80s tinged tracks like “Aerodynamic” pave the way for Giorgio Moroder-style future pop, with poodle-rock guitar solos and nostalgic electro breakdowns. Move aside, all you pretenders, the daft punks are back. Mar 12

Wagon Christ “Musipal” (Ninja Tune/Pias) Luke Vibert’s world is a strange one, but as Wagon Christ it’s even stranger. “Musipal” is the musical equivalent of being abducted by aliens — terrifyingly difficult to comprehend, not at all what you expected, topped off with cutting-edge, out-of-this-world electronic experimentation. Eerie, chromatic beatage with melodic (and often comic) atmospherics. Mar 5

Snooze “Going Mobile” (Mercury/Island) Dominique Dalcan, better known as Snooze to Paris’ vertically-challenged lounge-folk, returns from a four year-long hibernation with the still somnolent “Going Mobile.” Sensual drum’n’bass is spliced with soul, latin-house and funk on an LP that should see as much back-room dance floor action as late-night bedtime play. Mar 6

Raz Ohara “The Last Legend” (Kitty Yo/Tripsichord) After 1999’s dub-wise hip hop LP “Realtime Voyeur,” Raz Ohara switches styles on “The Last Legend,” a folk troubadour recording with a 21st century slant. Scattered with late-night, been-up-too-long, I-love-you-but-I-don’t-know-why lyrics, the 17 two- to three-minute ditties will prove a solace for insomnia-crazed club kids apt to burn the midnight oil. Mar 12

Smadj “New Deal” (Melt 2000/Discograph) Tunisian-born instrumentalist releases an idiosyncratic improvisation-based LP, fusing traditional North African oud, guitar and mandolin with digital beats in a global, worldbeat meltdown of contemporary technology. Mar 15

Alpha “The Impossible Thrill” (Melankolic/Delabel) Bristol duo Andy Jenks and Corin Dingley release their second LP through Massive Attack’s Melankolic label. It’s just like the first time round — conducted in the inimitable Alpha downbeat trip hop stylee, but with a more refined, song-based repertoire. The record sees a renewed interest in the Bristol sound of the mid ’90s — perhaps something to do with Massive’s new album, slated to drop sometime in May. Mar 20

Grand Tourism “Le Surboomer” (Atmosphériques) After teasing us with a taste of their tunes with a four-track EP last year, Grand Tourism present their full-blown, full-length, no-holds-barred album “Le Surboomer.” The French three-piece burst onto the scene last year with single “Les Courants d’Air,” featuring Terry Callier and again manage to find enigmatic vocalists in the form of Ken Norris and Angie B. “Sweet Sitar Street” and “La Guitare Enchantée” should give you an idea of how the sleek instrumentation sounds next to aforementioned vocal talent. Out now




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					New Music Beat by Neil Atherton Kitch Kitch… like a party Olaf’s Last Laugh Olaf Hund’s debut album showcases the latest wave of experimental electronica from Paris-based label Musiques Hybrides. “Kitch Kitch” is one of those records that you’d play at a party expecting a reaction. But not the kind of reaction Olaf Hund has in mind. “At any party,” observes the Franco-German producer, “you always end up in the kitchen. It’s where people can eat food and talk.” Logical thinking, but this is not your standard soirée. “The ultimate party is to take everything from the fridge and throw it on the walls and have a food fight. The next day you have to clean up — that is both sides of the Kitch Kitch story.” So, one half of the album is named after yogurt flavors (Goût Cerise), while the other devotes itself to dishwashing liquid (Dégraisse et tue les bactéries). Hmm. This may sound a little silly, but it’s in fact a social comment on Western consumerism and today’s throw-away society. The tracks themselves are consumable in the sense that each one is indexed (there are 32 in all), so you can skip to the part you like, thus hiding the length of the song. Olaf explains: “All the tracks are based on the unknown. It’s like a party — the best ones are always a surprise. Every track is different in style and tempo, but they all have the same state of mind. It’s funny but at the same time serious.” Tupperware parties will never be the same again. “Kitch Kitch” out March 5 on Musiques Hybrides/Delabel. Soundbites Heavy Metal The devil’s music makes its comeback in March with big-league banner-wielders Sepultura unleashing their new LP “Nation” (Mar 20) and Terrorvision revealing “Good To Go” (Mar 12). Macabre metallers Deicide are in the studio recording their follow-up to “Inseratehymn” as are Machine Head, whose next album “Supercharger” is being produced by Johnny K. SPOR “Is Today Tomorrow?” (Atmosphériques) French metal outfit debut with a semi-acoustic trip to the uncharted side of rock. “NPB” is one of the finest songs of its genre — showing Limp Bizkit et al how to make funky, rocking riffage sound intelligent. Mar 27 Aerosmith “Just Push Play” (Columbia) Less metal, more glam-rock, Steve Tyler and Joe Perry are back with their first record in four years. They’ve sold 100 million albums in their 25 year career, so that means 16 million albums during their four year hiatus. 16 million multiplied by $15 per CD equals $240 million. No wonder it took them so long. Mar 13 Daft Punk “Discovery” (Daft Life/Labels) The duo who’s first Clash-inspired effort at making music earned them a review in Melody Maker (who called them a “bunch of daft punks”) finally release new long-player “Discovery.” And it’s just that: disco very. Straying away from the pure 303 adrenaline of 1997’s “Homework,” ’70s and ’80s tinged tracks like “Aerodynamic” pave the way for Giorgio Moroder-style future pop, with poodle-rock guitar solos and nostalgic electro breakdowns. Move aside, all you pretenders, the daft punks are back. Mar 12 Wagon Christ “Musipal” (Ninja Tune/Pias) Luke Vibert’s world is a strange one, but as Wagon Christ it’s even stranger. “Musipal” is the musical equivalent of being abducted by aliens — terrifyingly difficult to comprehend, not at all what you expected, topped off with cutting-edge, out-of-this-world electronic experimentation. Eerie, chromatic beatage with melodic (and often comic) atmospherics. Mar 5 Snooze “Going Mobile” (Mercury/Island) Dominique Dalcan, better known as Snooze to Paris’ vertically-challenged lounge-folk, returns from a four year-long hibernation with the still somnolent “Going Mobile.” Sensual drum’n’bass is spliced with soul, latin-house and funk on an LP that should see as much back-room dance floor action as late-night bedtime play. Mar 6 Raz Ohara “The Last Legend” (Kitty Yo/Tripsichord) After 1999’s dub-wise hip hop LP “Realtime Voyeur,” Raz Ohara switches styles on “The Last Legend,” a folk troubadour recording with a 21st century slant. Scattered with late-night, been-up-too-long, I-love-you-but-I-don’t-know-why lyrics, the 17 two- to three-minute ditties will prove a solace for insomnia-crazed club kids apt to burn the midnight oil. Mar 12 Smadj “New Deal” (Melt 2000/Discograph) Tunisian-born instrumentalist releases an idiosyncratic improvisation-based LP, fusing traditional North African oud, guitar and mandolin with digital beats in a global, worldbeat meltdown of contemporary technology. Mar 15 Alpha “The Impossible Thrill” (Melankolic/Delabel) Bristol duo Andy Jenks and Corin Dingley release their second LP through Massive Attack’s Melankolic label. It’s just like the first time round — conducted in the inimitable Alpha downbeat trip hop stylee, but with a more refined, song-based repertoire. The record sees a renewed interest in the Bristol sound of the mid ’90s — perhaps something to do with Massive’s new album, slated to drop sometime in May. Mar 20 Grand Tourism “Le Surboomer” (Atmosphériques) After teasing us with a taste of their tunes with a four-track EP last year, Grand Tourism present their full-blown, full-length, no-holds-barred album “Le Surboomer.” The French three-piece burst onto the scene last year with single “Les Courants d’Air,” featuring Terry Callier and again manage to find enigmatic vocalists in the form of Ken Norris and Angie B. “Sweet Sitar Street” and “La Guitare Enchantée” should give you an idea of how the sleek instrumentation sounds next to aforementioned vocal talent. Out now