It’s that time once again, as the countdown to the end of 2019 rapidly approaches and we somehow end this decade- we take a personal look back on familiar names, features and musicians’ best releases of the past 12 months. In what has been another crazy year filled with plenty of highs and lows- it’s the releases that have once again pulled a lot of people through the year.
Now in it’s 9th year, we let our favourites take over the site to tell us the records that have made their end of year lists. Telling us their most loved events/gigs and what we can look forward to from them next year.
Our next take over comes from a trio who last year released one of the greatest records! The hugely talented instrumental pioneers Jean Jean have had another successful year with plenty of live shows and fitting themselves on so many must-see bills across Europe. Consisting of Sebastien Torregrossa, Edouard Lebrun and Gregory Hoepffner; this engaging trio have blown us away with their promising evolution and their ability to captivate any listener. We’re very excited to hear from the the musicians and to know more about their year in music….
Top releases of the year
Edouard :
FKA Twigs – Magdalene
wow, what a brilliant artist she is! I love everything she does.
Apollo Noir – Chaos ID
very futuristic vision of music, he is also a very talented producer for other musicians.
Charli XCX – Charli
I was waiting for this album for a long time, like many mainstream album, musical choices are made to be liked by the most people as possible, sometimes it works and sometimes not. Despite this, try not to dance on 1999 or Gone…!
Caroline Polachek – Pang
I don’t like every track in this release, but the one I like … I like them very much! (I give up, Ocean of tears…) arrangements are so delicates and deeps
Quadrupède – Interiors
I only can say it in french: “Ils ont cassés la tête à la musique!”
Sebastien :
Anna Meredith – Fibs
Never heard of this person before. A good friend of mine played this album at a late night party and I totally freaked out.
Steve Lacy – Apollo XXI
The entire mood of his album is so cool.
Thom Yorke – Anima
I first heard the track called “Dawn Chorus” and totally fell in love with it. Then I listened to the whole album and kept listening to it during a whole week. A good album to listen to on a rainy day.
Low – Double Negative
I just can’t describe what I feel when I listen to this band. The music speaks as much to my ears as to my body.
Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell
I really enjoy listening to this album. Even if it’s not my favorite one, her voice is beautiful. The tone, the melodys, everything.
Greg :
The Golden Filter – Autonomy
These 2 slay at every release.
Blood Orange – Angel’s Pulse
If you’re a genius, it’s possible to make great pop music blending everything your love, Vol 1.
Kindness – Something Like A War
If you’re a genius, it’s possible to make great pop music blending everything your love, Vol 2.
Health – VOL.4 Slaves Of Fear
A new kind of guilty pleasure.
These New Puritans – Inside The Rose
The fall of mankind never sounded so beautiful.
FKA Twigs – Magdalene
I don’t have the words to explain / understand.
Pencey Sloe – Don’t Believe, Watch Out
Watch out for this incredible voice indeed.
● The best show you have played this year
Edouard : At a festival of neo hippies, in the countryside of France (my foot was broken because of an accident a few weeks before, so I had a spline on my ankle, and I took very very strong painkiller). So I played the whole show high as fuck! It was a seriously good experience, the show was intense to me, but I don’t know if I played right. I guess the crowd didn’t noticed anything because they were also high, not for the same reasons 🙂
Sebastien : Lately, we played at Nantes on my 36th birthday, and my bandmates kept trying to make me laugh during the set telling me silly things. Edouard even came and whispered a “joyeux anniversaire Sebastien” to my ear. It was kind of hard to stay focused on my guitar parts. At the end of our show, he shouted to the audience that it was my birthday and they all sang along. So cute.
Greg : Portals Festival, London. Our ferry experienced several delays because the sea was too violent, so all the odds of making it to the show were against us… at some point we almost turned around to get back home. But it was too depressing, so we told the Portals Team “we’ll do our best, if we make it in time we’ll play, and if don’t we’ll just get wasted with you”. We did both, and the gig was glorious.
● The best gig you have attended
Edouard : Charli XCX, still, she performed in Grande Halle de la Villette, what a show ! (I guess the last ITW I answered almost the same, I think I’m a real fan)
Sebastien : Last time, I answered Idles at le Bataclan in Paris (which is still the best show I have attended). But I have to find something else so I would say Rosalia that I saw at We Love Green Festival. She’s a performer. And there were like 15 dancers by her side ! Wow
Greg : Kindness @ Paris, Badaboum. It was just everything I needed to see & ear at that time to give me hope in making music. I sent a big crying fanboy message to the artist on the train back home.
● Highlights of your year
Edouard : Writing and recording an album in the same year, that’s very quick for Jean Jean !
Sebastien : Recording our album in a wonderful studio.
Greg : Same obviously ! And moving to another country.
● Artist/Band to watch for 2020
Edouard : Agar Agar – they released an album in 2018, and their music was already slipping to something weird (in a good way), I’m sure I’ll love the next release !
Also ALMEEVA – I hope this guy is gonna release the new album he’s working on next year. I had the chance to hear some stuff, and it’s gonna be great ! BTW, he’s also the Jean jean keyboard player (*non sponsored post)
Sebastien : Idles. Really excited.
Greg : Not a newcomer, but I’m really excited for the new Tame Impala LP. Edouard your are too cute haha.
● Best discovery this year
Edouard : IGOR – Tyler, The Creator. It makes my HeartQuake 😉
Sebastien : Khruangbin. I spent a huge time of last summer listening to that band.
Greg : Charlotte Adigery. Discovered her supporting Kindness in Paris, and loved her voice blending with that minimal techno / electro. Check the track “Paténipat” if you want to feel like you’re on drugs.
● Plans for the New Year
Edouard : Go further.
Sebastien : Adding Chorus effect.
Greg : Staying alive.
So excited for more from you all, another great year looking forward to the next one from Jean Jean.
No Comments