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Various
So Young But So Cold – Underground French Music 1977-1983



Like a French Futurama festival. On CD.

Various

While UK synth-pioneers OMD, Depeche Mode and the Human League emerged from the tail end of the ‘70s to enjoy mainstream success in the ‘80s, their Gallic counterparts were less fortunate. Hence in 2008 you won’t hear acts like Mathematiques Modernes, the Métal Boys (the later electro incarnation of Métal Urbain) and Richard Pinhas wheeled out nostalgically on French radio, nor will you will you find records by these acts in the racks. This wide-ranging compilation – which also includes tracks from Stranglers bassist Jean Jacques Burnel and future Hawkwind acolyte Tim Blake – reveals the deep-rooted French obsession with Suicide, Kraftwerk and early Roxy Music. Over 20 years on, tunes by Nini Raviolette, Ruth and Artefact sound surprisingly fresh, confirming post-punk France as a hotbed of musical modernism and, as Kas Product’s title track suggests, glacial cool.

Phil Alexander

Posted by Danny_Eccleston at 6:00 AM GMT 20/07/2008

Further Listening

Heldon - Un Reve Sans Conséquence Spéciale (Disjunta 1976, reissued Cuneiform 1995)

Kas ProductTry Out (RCA, 1981)

Métal BoysTokio Airport (Active, 2004)


Related MOJO content:

Depeche Mode , Métal Boys , OMD

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