STOP THE PRESSES!

Someone FINALLY posted the scopitone for Stella's cult classic "Si vous connaissez quelque chose de pire qu'un vampire parlez m'en, ca pourra peut-etre me faire sourire" on YouTube. I wrote the title from memory, so I might have got it wrong.




I have never seen this in my life and it's just as amazing as I thought it would be.

The user has a few more Stella scopitones, too.

ENJOY!

I'm still alive

Bonjour!

I'm just writing to say "sorry" for not posting too often, I am (once again) planning a move, this time a BIG one to Montreal! That's right, I am moving back to la belle province on July 1st! For good this time!

We've also been having a few technical issues with stereo equipment that have prevented me from recording any new songs. But please please please stay tuned! And download to your heart's content!

I will be back soon!
Mimi la twisteuse

Claude Dubois

Quebec singer-songwriter Claude Dubois was in the news this week. I won't go on about it.

In any case, here are some amazing early songs of his. I don't care what your opinion of him is, I'm just letting you hear for yourself the man's fine early work. Why? Because it's damn good, that's why.

Le Labrador is a masterful, poetic, classic, beautiful song.
His earlier songs like "Sullivan" remind me of Antoine's early work. "Evolution" and "Essaye" are friggin' fantastic late 60s groovers.

Claude Dubois - Je tourne
Claude Dubois - Evolution - Essaye
Claude Dubois - Sullivan
Claude Dubois - Le Labrador

Aurevoir Henri! :(

Henri Salvador, the last true survivor of the French "chanson", has passed away last week at the age of 90. He was active until his last breath, and did a farewell tour only last December in France. He laughed and smiled through life and through his career.

Here is my favorite song of his for your listening pleasure: the delicious, mother effing weird and brilliant "Beta Gamma l'ordinateur", in which he describes the world in 2000 through the eyes of a typical (albeit brainwashed) man. For the first time since I started this blog, I feel I should translate lyrics to a song.

"I am a man from the year 2000, I don't have any problems
I lead a simple life, I don't think anymore
We have a King who thinks for us, his name is
Beta Gamma, the Computer.

I am a man who is never hungry
I don't understand why generations before us
Took pleasure in eating
We just eat pills made by
Beta Gamma, the Computer

When I go for a ride in my car
I never drive leisurely
I have a digital map
That plans ahead for me

As for girls, no problem
I don't waste time telling them
I love them
Every night I must get
A girl that was pre-selected by
Beta Gamma, the Computer

When I think of all those before us
Who couldn't live without love
I tell you we are happier today
For the man of the year 2000, happiness is
Beta Gamma, the Computer

I don't know about you, but this sums up the so-called new Millenium to a tee. Wouldn't you think?

Aurevoir Henri!

Henri Salvador - Beta Gamma, l'ordinateur

C'est le Go-Go!

Here's "The In-Crowd" in French ("C'est le Go-Go"), sung by Québécoise Nicole Lord.
I've had this 45 for years, and still know nothing about her. No photos, nothing. A little hard on the ears at times when Nicole tries to sustain a note (ouch!), but still a very cool record.

Or maybe I'm always too harsh on these matters? ;-)

Bonne année!

Nicole Lord - C'est le Go-Go ("The In-Crowd")

Cherry Blossom Clinic

Two years ago I was honored to be a guest on my all-time favorite radio station, WFMU. I was welcomed by the lovely Terre T on her show, Cherry Blossom Clinic. Terre T has always been a strong supporter of Montreal bands and I was a fan of her show. We realised we had a lot of friends in common, both in Montreal and New Jersey and we hit it off instantly. I had a GREAT time with her and producer Evan Davis, and The Insomniacs' Mike Sinocchi (who can be heard mumbling in the background, tee hee).

For the occasion, I brought some Camembert cheese and red wine, and after the 2nd hour, we were both pretty, uh...bamboozled. :-)

I am currently on holiday until next week, so I thought I'd post this as an intermède, until my next post.


Mimi la twisteuse on WFMU's Cherry Blossom Clinic, Dec, 17 2005



(Mimi and Terre T "boob" shot, Rififi's, NYC, Dec. 17, 2005)

Victoire Scott

Well well well...look who's back!

I know, I had such high hopes for this blog, and then *poof*, I disappeared! Or so it seems. Actually, I moved to a new appartment in October and before Otis and I could get our little music studio back in order, our turn table broke! Now we have a cheap but cute little thing hooked up and here I am.

What better way to make a grand comeback than by posting about the lovely Victoire Scott? This beautiful lady is such a mystery, even her (non official, of course) Myspace invites people to write in if anybody has any info on her.

Baroque Pop never really catched on in France in the late 60s, but as far as the genre goes, Victoire Scott has recorded some of the finest and most beautiful sweet Baroque Pop sounds I have ever heard.

When I bought this record some time in the mid 90s, I didn't know who Victoire Scott was. I took it home, listened to it, and had chills all over from the absolute beauty of what I was hearing. "4ème Dimension" is a stunning piece of work, describing drug-induced psychedelic hallucinations of angelic proportions.

Strangely enough, it was re-recorded 10 years later by Al Turban, (brother of Christian Turban, who originally wrote the song). I'd love to hear it!

All songs from this Decca EP are beautifully orchestrated by JD Mercier and will just warm your heart with awe and fuzzy goodness.

Joyeux Noël!

Victoire Scott - 4ème Dimension
Victoire Scott - Une fleur dans le coeur
Victoire Scott - Par delà le sang de la terre
Victoire Scott - L'amour en couleur