Nouvelle Vague + Guests

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Nouvelle Vague, the French band that conquered the world with bossa nova covers of punk and new wave classics, return in time for summer with their third 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. Not wishing to tinker with this winning formula, but evolving all the same, Nouvelle Vague “3” picks up where Bande A Part left off, and this time they’re performing duets with the original singers. The other way NV3 differs from its predecessors is in the arrangements of the songs. Aside from the reggae and bossa nova interpretations, the songs are also inspired by country music and bluegrass. For this is what they do best; they take the songs that you adore and make you fall in love with them all over again.

Preview...

And now for something completely different ….a French musical collective who cover new wave and punk music in a 60s Bossa-nova style.  That's what is on the bill at The Brook at the end of this month when Paris-based Nouvelle Vague take the stage.

Nouvelle Vague were formed by Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux, their name reflecting both their "Frenchness" and their "artiness," referring to the 60s new wave of cult French cinema. 

On their eponymous first album, "Nouvelle Vague," the band resurrected classics from the New Wave music era, stripping them back to acoustic arrangements with lithe shaker rhythms achieved by gathering a parade of chanteuses from all over the world (six French, one Brazilian and one New Yorker) to sex up everyone from XTC to The Clash to Joy Division and Depeche Mode. The various female singers on Nouvelle Vague only performed songs they were not previously familiar with, to ensure that each cover would have a unique quality.

Their second album, "Bande a Part," included versions of "Ever Fallen In Love" by The Buzzcocks, "Blue Monday" by New Order and "Heart of Glasss" by Blondie.  You may have unwittingly heard Nouvelle Vague's music as hit has been used in adverts in the UK and also in the Channel 4 drama "Sugar Rush. Their music has also been used on the film soundracks of "Mr & Mrs Smith" and "Grindhouse: Planet Terror." 

Amongst the former members and contributors to Nouvelle Vague are many French artists who are now well known as solo artists: Anais Croze, Camille Dalmais, Phoebe Killdeer, Melanie Pain and Marina Celeste.

Preview by Peter Ashton