Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Jack the...Who?

GU journalist Tony Naylor is asking a rather interesting question over on the Music Blog: "Why isn't this band huge?" Strikes me that you lot, being ever so knowledgeable and true world citizens (I mean that most sincerely folks! genuine compliment there!), you must have bands like that coming out of your eye sockets. I just felt the urge suddenly (as you do) to post "my" "should be huge" band - Jack the Ripper. They are French but sing in English and are utter utter Nick Cave fans. Their music is melodic, melacholic and features unusual instrumentation such as violins or a rather prominent trombone used to great effect in songs like "I was born a cancer". Jack the Ripper have not only adorned my musical habitat for the last few years, I have also decorated our flat with works by the Brazilien artist they use for all their sleevework - Juarez Machado. The first song - "From my veins to the sea" - has great resonance for me as I was OD-ing on their album 'Ladies First' when I read Kazuo Ishiguro's "Never Let Me Go". The lyrics fit the plot of the book perfectly, like a made to measure soundtrack.
Have a listen and tell me what you think. He accent is awful I know but it's very laudable to even attempt to sing in English and I love them for that anyway.


free music

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Posting on my own post - cheating FP! Just to say, in reply to someone over on the main blog who was quite rightly singing the praises of one young Raphael who is a 'meejah babe', I have stuck his song 'Caravane' on at the end. For your personal delectation. We aim to please.

TracyK said...

I can hear Brett Anderson in his voice FP. I've always found Cave's voice a bit Marmite (though strangely, Stuart Staples' even more idiosyncratic voice does work on me. Hmm.) I always like a slightly broken accent too. Had a look at the artist's work too, his stuff seems really remiscent of Grosz's Weimar Republic art. Quite overheated and decadent. I really like his pictures of buildings, the sculptures...meh.

saneshane said...

been listening a few times..do like the trombone..but got lost in the artwork of J Machado
Didn't like it to start with..some stuff..ahhh.. but once you delve deeper into his site, some quite amazing stuff.. .very interesting and I like the bottles in Bordeaux (need to be pushed over for the 'spill)
glad you posted the music and the link.

steenbeck said...

I only had time to give it a quick listen because mr. Steenbeck has succumbed to the dreaded stomach virus (I bought him a whole LITER of coke, and he feels better) and he's been sitting on the couch trying to fight off a headache all day--not conducive to hearing new music. but I like it. I like the trombone. I like I was born a cancer (I'm a cancer! but not the kind he's talking about, I think). And the art is intriguing--reminds me of a neon Egon Schiele. Neon Egon--band name? I'm looking forward to a more thorough listen tommorrow.

.... said...

"Overheated and decadent!" Yes! That's the look I was going for in our lounge tee hee! But they do show very hedonistic scenes and I like that. Cheers Saneshane. I bought two posters (can't afford the originals!!) from the "artists' workshop" series. Both in tones of terracotta and red and they look nice and warm on the walls. I do hope Mr Steenbeck is fighting fit soon. I agree about the Schiele similarity - I like Schiele very much indeed. And the way he shadows the faces reminds me a little of Francis Bacon too.
---
Spot on as usual guys.

ejaydee said...

Didn't know where to post this, but our soon to be ex-guru has made it to audio!! He's on the Guardian Music Weekly podcast out today.

debbym said...

Another post in the *wrong* place - I can't get guardian.co.uk all of a sudden - is anyone else experiencing the same difficulty?

ejaydee said...

Yep, I can't get to the homepage, but the subsections work. Try music.guardian.co.uk etc.

Anonymous said...

Ejay - post the link will you? Can't find it. Cheers. FP

ejaydee said...

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/04/music_weekly_kim_deal_plus_joh.html

Somebody's been paying attention to what's been going on at the 'Spill, how else would they know he's the original Guru.

Anonymous said...

Oh I suspect a few of the GU lot look in now and then. Cheers Frenchy. I'll give it a listen. By the way I had a good gigggle at your heheheh cackle in reaction to my rant about Sebastien Tellier being France's eurovision entry.