20 years after the release of its first eponymous album, which has since become a classic, the French group Nouvelle Vague is back! More than covers, Nouvelle Vague has been reinventing post-punk classics since the early 2000s, retaining their melancholy while infusing them with an air of bossa nova, revealing along the way singers who have become iconic such as Camille or Phoebe Killdeer. And to go along with its 20th anniversary, Nouvelle Vague will be on a massive world tour in 2024 and 2025, with first dates already announced for the UK, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Belgium and France.
Marc Collin did not expect to find himself making a fifth album by Nouvelle Vague, the project he started in Paris with the late Olivier Libaux in 2003. It’s not just that he initially didn’t want to make a fifth album, although he didn’t, not until he met vocalist Alonya at a party and invited her to his studio, where she proceeded to perform an “amazing” version of The Clash’s Should I Stay Or Should I Go, the song that gives the new album its title: enthused, Collin realised he wanted to record more with her, “so that’s how it happened”. It’s that Marc Collin didn’t expect to find himself making a fourth Nouvelle Vague album, nor a third, nor even a second. As he points out, most of the musical projects he has been involved in over the years – everything from making house music with French touch producer Eric Rug as Dirty Jesus, to composing film soundtracks, to the trip hop flavoured Ollano and the darkly atmospheric Living Gods Of Haiti – had been short-lived: have the idea, make an album, move onto something new. Nouvelle Vague was not supposed to be any different. “It was just an idea – OK, we should do a tribute to the songwriting of the post-punk era, and it would be really cool to do it as bossa nova. It just an album. I didn’t think that it would take up so much important space in my life.” He laughs. “I didn’t think I would be talking about it with you 20 years later.”
Marc Moulin was so kind to tell the story of each track, so we’ll start with that:
What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend:
I’ve discovered this track through the very funny and great video clip that was shown on French TV when the song was released. I m a big fan of The Specials, especially of Jerry Dammers, so naturally I’ve always wanted to cover this track but never found the right angle. Finally I’ve chosen to do a nice bossa nova arrangement, not that far from the original jazzy version but performed by a girl is really adding a twist I think.
It's something completely different and feels like fitted for fancy restaurants and bars and let it play in the background. The song has a soft erotic lesbian touch. It’s a very daring and out of the box cover version.
People Are People:
People are people Typically a good example of what Nouvelle Vague can do with an original 80’s techno pop classic. Arranged like the track was recorded in the 60’s and sung by Shirley Bassey (now Alonya) with the soft and naive vocals of Marine, doing the Martin Gore part.
It’s again something completely different from the original and make sit even hard to recognize the original during certain passages within the song. It’s way softer and has a dreamy touch.
You spin me round
It’s actually the first song I wanted to cover when I’ve imagined the project Nouvelle Vague 20 years ago. I don’t remember why I didn’t do it at that time, maybe cos I thought it was more a pop hit than a real post punk song. I’ve imagined to turn the song as if Screaming Jay Hawkins was singing and I’ve rearranged the track with brasses following this idea.
The song starts almost like the other song called: you put a spell on me, but it’s actually a totally other song. It’s almost impossible to recognize the original in it and could have been part of a James Bond movie.
Only you. This is the third song I ‘m covering written by Vince Clark, a real pop genius, after Just can get enough and don’t go. What if the song was created and recorded in 1963 by Phil Spector? That was the idea behind this arrangement.
It’s one of the best covers so far as it comes all in all the closest to the original one and has the right vibe.
She’s in parties I read recently that this song is about Marlin Monroe! It’s in the can, the chorus means it’s in the box, in the camera. So I’ve imagined the song like a soundtrack, a bit of John Barry 007 style! We are very far from the nouvelle vague bossa style but our cover of Bela Lugosi s dead was very far from this as well and people seemed to have appreciate it a lot.
If you read this comment you would say that this version is the real original version with Miss Monroe behind the mic and recorded by her true self. You need to read the text above to believe me. I totally believe the story!
The look of love I remember that I bought the 12 inch of ABC when it was released, it was difficult to find this kind format in France in 1982! I’ve always loved this song and the amazing production from Trevor Horn. It’s incredible to think that ABC was originally an electro post punk band only 2 years before. I thought of Dusty Springfield look of love for the inspiration to reinvent the track.
I still hear the original true this one, despite the fact they again changed the sound completely. It’s well done, but you need some time to get used to the new approach.
Shout I was a big fan of the first album of TFF, amazing songs and production. Still very relevant nowadays. But tracks like mad world, have been covered a lot these past years so I’ve chosen a song from their second album, that was actually even more successful. The message of the song is timeless and I’ve transposed it in Kingston in the 70’s with a reggae feel. Like a protest song from that time.
This song was already launched as a single you I got a bit more used to it and gave it some time to grow on me.
Should I stay or should I go? It’s the first song I’ve worked on to start this new album. Immediately I thought of going from reggae to ska on the chorus. Few days after the first demo, I met Alonya at a party in Paris and I knew she could be the perfect performer to deliver this kind of Caribbean arrangement. I thought of « fever » sung by La Lupa in the 60’s.
The sound is a big surprise, knowing the original well enough. I’m wandering how it will sound on stage and how the fans will react to it.
Rebel Yell I didn’t choose this one, its actually Olivier Libaux that has done this cover and it’s also on his own album that has been released just after his death two years ago. Melanie, the voice of nouvelle vague since the beginning, is singing. I wanted to do a kind of tribute to Olivier (co-founder of Nouvelle Vague with me) including his track.
I’m not sure if Billy Idol would love this softer version of his rock anthem. A lot of bands covered this one and did it with a lot of power, but here it’s really almost like a muzak version I think like: euw. I’m sorry to say this: but never take out the power out of a song that literally cries for power.
Breakfast is probably the less known song of the album, written by Billie McEnzie, incredible performer with his band, the Associates (underrated and forgotten postpone band). Like she s in parties, I went into a very cinematographic direction, inspired by the beautiful piano theme of the original. It’s a very difficult song to sing and I guess that only Alonya could do it. Congrats to her!
It’s again this James Bond feel, like Goldfinger. The vocals are ok. I indeed don’t know the original, but that helps a bit to appreciate this song a bit.
Girls on film A hit from Duran Duran, I’ve always like the lyrics and the video. I thought of a 60’s film noir movie for the new arrangement with a bit of Dub effect.
Keeps a bit the flow of the original version but add other sounds. The global sound is not bad at all.
Rapture Elodie Frégé one of our favourite singers, came up with the idea of covering this classic hit from Blondie. Not an easy one as the structure is very weird, and there is a long rapping section (probably the first rap on a pop song ever actually). I’ve asked Elodie to do a cool talk over, like she was playing in a Lynch movie. I added sound fx like race cars, accidents, etc. to go deep into the mood of the arrangement.
This version is not bad, but covering from a well-known artist always rises high expectations and those are not reached here. I feel like dodging a bullet.
This charming man was Melanie’s idea, as she’s a big fan of The Smiths and has already sung Sweet and tender Hooligans by the past. Very good song and lyrics and I just arranged it with the typical Nouvelle Vague sound.
The song kept the melancholia but put a hot sauce on it to give it a sensual after taste with a bossa nova sound.
Well: the 80’s are back and a lot of artists try to make money out of it. The good thing about Nouvelle Vague is that did it from the beginning, so you can’t hit them and blame to be opportunist. The album is ok, but these kind of cover versions are not really my kind of style, however I admire the way all the songs got (totally) changed!
30.05 @ Cirque Royal, Bruxelles
