Circuit Sweet Interview, Feature, Reviews

Rad Releases 20 – La Jungle

December 21, 2020

Rad Releases 20 – La Jungle

It’s that time once again, as the countdown to the end of 2020 rapidly approaches and we quickly want to move away from this year- we take a personal look back on familiar names, labels, promoters, and musicians’ best releases of the past 12 months. In what has been a challenging year for all, the one constant has been how artists and their labels have adapted and produced some of the best records of our time and it’s those releases that have the audience has depended on to get them through the year.

This year the Rad Releases special celebrates 10 years, to mark the decade-long feature we let our favorites take over the site to tell us the records that have kept them going throughout this trying year. Telling us how they’ve adapted, if they’ve returned to a loved record and what we can look forward to from them next year.

© ROCHENOIR / LUCAS DEBAILLE 2019

Talk about a band that fails to slow down. Just when you think La Jungle couldn’t possibly take on any more recordings or shows, they go and launch their own record label, in the middle of a pandemic. Whilst La Jungle wait for the release of their next album, the pair launched their own record label called H Y P E R J U N G L E, in the summer of this year dedicating 2020 to a few special releases. The first release being a 10″ split vinyl with their friends Hyperculte from Switzerland. A few weeks after that, the pair announced “Past // Middle Age // Future // Remixes”, the new album features 24 remixes by 24 collaborators, DJ’s, bands, or members of bands who remixed a track from their previous album from 2019 “Past // Middle Age // Future”.  We speak to drummer Rémy to discover more about his last 12 months in music and memorable releases on his playlist…

Top Releases

France – Far Out Far West

The first band I want to see live after this. Dron-kraut trio from Lyon, France. 

Osees – Metamorphosed

It’s been a busy year for Dwyer’s bands, Damaged Bug, Osees, Bent Arcana and Witch Eggs.

King Gizzard And the Lizard Wizzard – K.G

Some of us video clip is truly insane, and the K.G album is all we needed for this fall. 

SLIFT – Ummon

Our friends from Toulouse released their new album a few days before the first lockdown. 

Baxter Dury – The Night Chancers

Not my thing in “normal” times but 2020 is full of surprises. Great Baxter ! 

The best show you have played this year / gig attended (if you had the opportunity at the start of the year)

Slift at Le Confort Moderne, Poitiers (february 2020)Paard. at Castle De Spycker, Brugge (may 2020)The K at Vecteur, Charleroi (october 2020)
We performed in our hometown in September between the two pandemic waves. 350 people came, seated and next stood up firing the gig, not that covid-friendly but.. you know..

Has there been any record that’s got you through this year?

Maybe Infest The Rats Nest by Gizzard (2019)And the song Slumlord by Baxter Dury (2020)

How have you adapted with releasing/recording/promoting during this year?

We did not changed our plans for 2020. Except touring for sure. As planned, we released a live album, a remix album, a split with Hyperculte (Ch) and a few reeditions. Lot of rehearses and recording sessions too. To prepare future releases. Cannot say more right now 😉
I also released a DIY tape with a friend, a mix of drums and Death Grips samples, mixed with french lessons for kids. The tape is crappy, sold-out and called El Rookie plays Black Google.

Best discovery this year? 

Blast-beats maybe ? tatatatatatatatatatata

As this is our 10th year of Rad Releases, we want to look back on your 10 years- has there been on standout moment/standout record of the past 10years for you!

We tour since 2014. For sure we have such great memories, especially on the road. Our first tour in France was maybe the most impressive for me. We performed in a farm far in the countryside on that tour on the 3rd day. Maybe the first time people started dancing at one of our shows. Pretty intense. More recently, decembre 2019, we had a small 3-gigs tour in Bretagne. I miss that kind of short tours so so much. 
About my standout record, definitely Hold Your Horses Is by Hella for the drum parts. Period.

Artist/Band to watch for 2021

We work with a guy called David Temprano on video clips. He also did a remix for us. You should check out and follow his instagram account @landasrosas That kind of underrated and almost unknown work. 
+ Tachycardie will release something new in December. Solo drum act in a very experimental and innovative way. Must see live !

Plans for the New Year

We will release a few records in 2021. We are working hard on many plans, with different ways of touring too. See you in January with new announcement! 

Excited for this announcement and just to continue being blown away by the releases you’re putting out!

https://lajungleband.com/

https://lajungle.bandcamp.com/

You Might Also Like

No Comments

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.