Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Punk Bossa Nova - Nouvelle Vague @ The Roundhouse, Oct 16

Nouvelle Vague, the French band that conquered the world with bossa nova covers of punk and new wave classics, return to London to play the Roundhouse in support of their 3rd album: "3". Led by producer/arrangers Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux and sung by a revolving cast of chanteuses, the group's first two albums, 'Nouvelle Vague' (2004) and 'Bande A Part' (2006) have sold well over half-a-million copies.

On their early records, Nouvelle Vague took cherished tracks from the late 1970s and early 1980s by acts such as Joy Division, The Clash, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Bauhaus, Blondie, Buzzcocks, New Order, Yazoo and the Dead Kennedys and reworked them in a gentle bossa nova style. Sung by French female vocalists, some of whom had never heard the originals before, these cult hits had new life breathed into them, and their meanings became softly subverted. In French, Nouvelle Vague means 'new wave', and 'bossa nova' in Portuguese. Even the records' sleeves wittily referenced the artwork for Jean Luc Godard's early-'60s new-wave films.

"The original concept of Nouvelle Vague was to use young girl singers who don't know the meaning of punk and post-punk music," says Marc Collin, in whose Paris studio the records are made. "That way, they are bringing something new and totally fresh to the songs, and it really worked. So we kept doing it in this direction." Nouvelle's more fragrant approach has been universally approved by everyone from Mick Jones of The Clash, Morrissey, The Undertones, Dead Kennedys and Killing Joke.

Nouvelle Vague will be taking the songs you adore and making you fall in love with them all over again at the Roundhouse this autumn.

Friday, October 16!
Buy tickets online here now or call 08700 603 777

The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Rd
London, NW1

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