AOTY #15. Peine Perdue - Moreceaux Choisis

Peine Perdue (that could be translated by Wasted Effort) is a French duo, sharing their time between Berlin and Paris, which was created by Stéphane Argillet, composer, keyboardist and programming the magical machines, and Coco Gallo, who writes most of the texts and recite them more than she sings. Together, they offer a music often cold and yet very endearing, sometimes pop, sometimes more minimalist and experimental, which mingles inextricably with the smooth voice of Coco, whose poetic and enigmatic texts fascinate as far as they intrigue.
Often with groups that propose minimal compositions, charm lies in the subtle blend of the melodies and the voice. With Peine Perdue, the synthetic and mechanical music perfectly fits with this sensual and although distant voice, that loves to lead us into the vortex of her poetic riddles. One without the other would be missing a part, the two together are wonderful, and have managed to create their own universe, in this quite crowded world of minimal-synth duets.

AOTY : #20. Police Des Moeurs - Dedales

When you think of 80s post-punk and synth-pop bands you probably don’t associate them with contemporary cold-wave band Police des moeurs. Nonetheless, Dedales is a lively look back at a genre whose legacy seems to have gotten lost. The band has succeeded in retaining the spirit of the once feared and revered genre. A trully great album.

The Product

The Product were a minimal wave duo from the small villages Kvistgaard and Espergaerde, in the north of Denmark. They met in the Autumn of 1982 and recorded their sole album "Alive Again" over a weekend. It was self-released on cassette in 1983 and limited to 50 copies. "Alive Again" features 11 songs recorded in two short live takes directly onto one cassette. The Product employed a basic set up of Micromoog, Roland JX-3P and TR-606 Drumatix. With these three instruments they crafted melodic, icy electronic rhythms with detached vocals. They were influenced by UK post-punk bands Second Layer, This Heat, Wire, Gary Numan, Fad Gadget and most noticeably The Cure's Pornography album. Lyrics revolve around growing up in broken homes, alienation and romance. Each song has been carefully remastered from the original cassette master for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. "Almost afraid of it" is a sneak peak into the world of Danish post punk bedroom cassettes.

Jessica93

French one man project Jessica93 is a powerful and emotional force of hypnotic loops, grungy riffs and cold beats, all wrapped up in an impressive sense of delicate and to-the-point song writing. Even Paris, hosts its bleak and dingy suburbs. With the promise of magic so close within one’s reach, the lack of it becomes even more evident. In the midst of this space of hope turned disappointment, Geoff LaPorte goes on an escapist trip and takes on the moniker of Jessica93. Where others see beauty, he sees the rats. But Jessica is the coolest chick in class. She’s desirable and she has ability to transcend the mundane reality of Paris’ dirty streets. Jessica stands for all that we wish to be, but can’t. Instead, let’s embrace the dark humour of the universe. As one man playing all instruments, along with a trusty drum machine; Jessica93 builds his music with layers – balancing the raw and minimalist with a trippy warmth. This sense of dream and romance is present in all his songs, sometimes numbed in an opiate high, sometimes as matter-of-fact melancholia.