Rad Releases 22 – Jean Jean
Our annual end-of-year feature is finally here, we spend the final two weeks of the year discussing the music that made 2022 special. Our special Rad Releases feature is now 12 years old and we love sharing the site with musicians, labels, and promoters as we discuss their year in music. We take a personal look back on familiar names’ most loved releases of the past 12 months. It’s a time we enjoy and look forward to, through the contributions we get to find new music discoveries, and releases we may have missed throughout the year.
Next up, we hand the site over to a trio who released one of the most exhilarating albums of the year, a record that came out last month and continues to blow us away. We are so pleased that the year bought us new music from Jean Jean, their magnificent third album “Fog Infinite” is out now via Black Basset Records & À Tant Rêver Du Roi and Jean Jean have been on the road to promote the record. We are delighted to hand the site to Edouard, Seb and Greg to find out more about their year in music.
EDOUARD
- Top Releases
Catering Barbieri, Spirit Exit
Sometimes a piece of art means a lot for you without knowing why, or without explanations, you just feel connected to it.
Technology for the afterlife, Interpretations of eternity
Perfect for waking up, especially if it’s cold outside.
Lander and Adriaan, self titled album.
Love to listen to this album when I run.
Yawning Portal, Notice the direction of fire
Travel through an imaginary world, classy and delicate.
Malibu, Places of pity.
Pure waves of melancholia.
- The best show you have played this year / gig attended
Same as Seb and Greg, playing a show in this freezing but packed church, in Rennes. The last show of the year was a really good one. It was also the first time we played with our « full team », Pirik and Arnaud for the sound and the lights
Attended : Pencey sloe, they opened for our release party in Paris, and they were awesome!
- Your own highlight of the year
I stayed a few weeks in west USA deserts, with a tent and a synth, kind of a special experience 🙂
- Has there been any record that’s got you through this year?
Eartheater, Phoenix Are Dew Up Upon My skin. This artist is such a mystery to me, fascination is the only word 🙂
- Best musical discovery this year?
2022 was a Cocteau Twins year for me
- Artist/Band to watch for 2023
I hope Oklou is gonna release a new album in 2023, the last one, Galore in 2020, was an absolute banger to me, so I’m really excited about his next release.
- Plans for the New Year
No idea 🙂
SEB
- Top 5 releases
IDLES – Crawler
DELANEY BAILEY – J’s Lullaby
ABUL MOGARD – In A Few Places Along The River
ROSALIA – Motomami
FLEET FOXES – A Very Lonely Solstice
- The best show you have played this year
I guess it would be playing a show in a freezing church in Rennes.
- Your own highlight of the year
Still being able to make music. And loving it.
- Has there been any record that’s got you through this year?
Anything from Folk music (Tia Blake, Adrienne Lenker…) to Ambient kind of music (The Monk By The Sea, Kali Malone, Rival Consoles…)
- Best musical discovery this year?
“ Acid Rain” by LORN or “ The City” by THE CHARIOT
- Plans for the New Year
Touring, touring, touring
GREG
- Top releases
Warpaint – Radiate Like This
Personal favorite of the whole year, can’t get enough of it. Totally in love with the song “Melting”. I recommend watching their recent “From The Basement” Live Session, which is unsurprisingly brillant.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Cool It Down
Best YYYs album yet, a mix of real bangers and beautiful moments, like the emotional “Different Today”.
Poliça – Madness
They toned it down for this album and it really works. Amazing opening track.
Viagra Boys – Cave World
Don’t be fooled by the hype and the joke band name, this a very clever indie-rock album. Blown away by the production ideas & quality. “Ain’t No Thief” will get you pumped up anytime.
The Smile – A Light For Attracting Attention
Basically Radiohead, with a more interesting drummer. What more do you want ?!
Pencey Sloe – Neglect
Best shoegaze-indie album of the year, and it’s our Paris buddies. So glad to have had them at our release party. Bisous Diane if you’re reading this.
Beach House – Once Twice Melody
Definitely their best one since “Bloom” ! How hard it is to make a double LP that’s NOT boring at some point ? They nailed it.
- The best show you have played this year / gig attended
Played : Tie between Jean Jean @ Rennes, Bars en Trans & Almeeva @ Image Sonore Festival.
Jean Jean @ Rennes, Bars en Trans : Final show of the tour, in an amazing place (a freezing but beautiful church), to a sold out crowd. The 3 of us finally overcame all our demons and had fun AT THE SAME TIME, which is somewhat a miracle.
Almeeva @ Image Sonore Festival : I basically left my body for an hour. And got to share the stage with a personal hero, Clark.
Attended : Moderat – Paris, Zenith. I was not ready for this. Masters of build-ups. Every track I wasn’t too keen on, I was hooked within 2 minutes, and then asking for more.
- Your own highlight of the year
Actually being able to play the new Jean Jean album live hahaha ! Seriously, this has been the most challenging experience for me as a musician. It feels great to finally not be afraid of the songs and enjoy performing them.
- Has there been any record that’s got you through this year?
Radiohead – In Rainbows : When in need of greatness and relief, always good to came back to it, and it’s B-Sides EP.
- Best musical discovery this year?
Yin Yin – The Age Of Aquarius : Play this to anyone, anywhere, it will be enjoyed.
- Plans for the New Year
Mixing too many wines in a swedish country house with my partner.
A huge thank you for spending time with us and even more so for that new record! It’s made our year.
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