Nouvelle Vague Vol.1 - Nouvelle Vague

Advantages: A perfect party album; you can be the 'cool one' among your friends for discovering it first
Disadvantages: Some might consider covering Joy Division sacreligious!

...why you'd say yes... but Nouvelle Vague's self-titled album is something else entirely. It looks fairly unassuming from the front cover - I have to say I ignored it for a time, in the assumption it was some kind of under-marketed third rate album of dance remixes or somesuch. It's simplistic and stylised: a purple background with a high-relief depiction of a sixties-looking girl, all arrogantly raised chin and half-closed eyes - the imperious elegance ...
...of the genius of the Nouvelle Vague project - that it takes familiar things and reworks them. When I first heard this, it took me much longer than it should have as a good Joy Division fan, to realise that the first track was a cover of 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' and stop work to listen incredulously. Some might consider it folly - sacrilege even - to record what was such a definitive, excellent song by such a troubled and gifted songwriter, but for ... Read review

Advantages: Good Music
Disadvantages: Needs improvement

An interesting album of cover tracks. The band are from France and have recently made it onto the scene in the last few years. Some songs are better than others. I would recommend this album as an easy listening record. It's something you can relax to in the evening. Tracks JOY DIVISION : Love will tear us apart (feat. Eloisia) DEPECHE MODE : Just can't get enough (feat. Eloisia) TUXEDOMOON : In a manner of speaking (feat. Camille) THE CLASH : ...
...not a) love song (feat. Melanie Pain) DEAD KENNEDYS : Too drunk to f**k (feat. Camille) THE SISTERS OF MERCY : Marian (feat. Alex) XTC : Making plans for Nigel (feat. Camille) THE CURE : A forest (feat. Marina) MODERN ENGLISH : I melt with you (feat. Silja) THE UNDERTONES : Teenage Kicks (feat. Melanie Pain) KILLING JOKE : Psyche (feat. Sir Alice) THE SPECIALS : Friday night, saturday morning (feat. Daniella D'Ambrosio) ... Read review

Advantages: Nice original look at punk and electronica
Disadvantages: Slightly samey

...classics, but with a twist... Nouvelle Vague means "New Wave" (in French) but also "Bossa Nova" (in brazillian portuguese) and well, that's the twist. Punk covers done bossa nova style... odd you think, but highly effective! Now what's so great about two blokes singing punk classics in a weird way? Well they don't sing: in fact there are eight different female singers that take it in turns to take us on this twisted form of punk. Each of their voices ...
...a bit odd hearing "Teenage Kicks" (originally by the Clash) sung in a sensual way is a good enough reason to buy the album on it's own, but there are in fact 13 brilliantly sung and produced songs. My only gripe with this album is that hearing the same style again and again can get slightly repetitive, but not overly So in conclusion... Genre: Bossa nova covers Length: 46 mins 30 sec Rating: 7/10 An album definitely worth buying, if you want ... Read review

Fabulous compilation of rarities. With the emphasis of turning the concept of genre on its ear, this two disc set is fun and funky from beginning to end.