BUMCELLO (ABO#373)

BUMCELLO

... WAS A FRIEND ...

(1999-2009)

Bumcello is a duet. Bum is on the percussions and Cello ... on the cello. Their music could have sounded like jazz but they decided something different. They often have been playing with other bands or artists like Les Fabulous Troubadours (whose "duo" can be heard on their BAISTOPHE ABO#279), with Taraf de Haidouk (idem on their BAISTOPHE ABO#091) or even Mathieu Chedid. That brings some kind of sound that can be assimilated like a remix where it isn't.

Live, Bumcello become an improvisationing band and their songs can last more than 10 minutes. In the contrary, in the studio, the songs are more constructed and are very short. Bumcello can explore so many musical identity with their only two instruments (+ guest musicians or electronic equipments).

This collection is a bit focused on their experimental works where you can also find some pop, soul, rnb, trip hop, dub songs in it. But I think this experimental work is what is more interesting in that band.

My Bumcello TOP :

1. Nude For Love (2002)

2. Get Me (2003)

3. Bumcello (1999)

4. Lychee Queen (2008)

5. Animal Sophistiqué (2005)

6. Booty Time (2001)

JAY-JAY JOHANSON (ABO #282)

JAY-JAY JOHANSON
SOLITUDE

From his early crooning trip-hop to the electro-pop of 2002's Antenna to the state of total despair depicted in his latest album (Self-Portrait), Jay-Jay Johanson has gone through many stages always keeping it real and staying true to himself. Largely unknown in most countries, he built a strong following in both his homeland of Sweden and in France where his jazz influences, trip-hop arrangements and subtle arrangements seem to have fitted best. This compilation covers his seven solo albums released from 1996 to 2008. A little over a decade of one of the most unique and underrated artists of today's scene. I hope you'll like it as much as I do. Enjoy the dreamy, and sometimes gloomy, art of Jay-Jayohanson..

My JAY-JAY JOHANSON Top 3
1 - Self-Portrait (2008)
2 - Tattoo (1998)
3 - Poison (2000)

RIYL:
Portishead, Scott Walker, Johnny Hartman

ARCHIVE (ABO#225)

ARCHIVE

ALL THAT'S LEFT

(1996-2009)

What a surprise to find such a band in the progressive month! Archive is indeed much more a Trip-Hop band. Archive was founded in 1994 in the great Trip-Hop vague begun by such bands as Massive Attack or Portishead. Their very first album, Londinium, really reminds of Massive Attack. After that first CD, the music began to be more gliding, until the You All Look The Same To Me album (2002) where anyone can easily compare their music with the Pink Floyd sounds of the Wish You Were Here era. That's why we suggested that Archive has something to do with the progressive genre. Long songs that evoluate with such structure so comparable with the Prog world.

By 2009, Archive has issued a new CD, Controlling Crowds that is much like Again than the previous ones.

Then one question remains : is Trip-Hop a sub-genre of progressive Rock? It's up to you to decide!

My Archive TOP:

1. You All Look The Same To Me (2002)

2. Take My Head

3. Londinium

4. Controlling Crowds

5. Lights

6. Noise

7. Michel Vaillant O.S.T.