Various Artists—France Rocks

Review by Luis A. Apolaya

A collection from Bureauexport, a non-profit label that helps distribute music from French artists to the rest of the world. As expected, there is a mix of a number of genres and sounds, though most are fairly reminiscent of the current American “indie” feel with a synth edge. Recommended: any, depending on your taste.

*1. (3:17) Mellow nightlife music, melodious beeps and boops and slick drumbeats, English lyrics
2. (2:58) Take a band like Real Estate and make the lead singer speak French, and here’s what they’ll sound like
3. (3:44) xx-type of duo singing, synth organs and synth drums everywhere
4. (4:53) Female quartet, guitar and vocals hold some reverb, tries to lean into Tame Impala-esque territory
*5. (4:09) Instrumentation at feels like a Peter Schilling outtake, brings together new wave and surf rock vibes, when the track culminates it’s actually quite head-nod worthy
*6. (3:40) As sleek and swaggery as an Artic Monkeys track, plus female vocals and catchy synths
7. (3:28) Has the gait of the Oompa Loompa song, pretty standard alt rock feel, last 30 seconds is drum solo
*8. (3:16) Eurodance instrumental with small vocal samples, interstellar sounds, and astronomical mid-tempo grooves, could help if you need a sound bed
*9. (3:13) Straight of the vault of songs that should have probably been released in the French 60s but ended up seeing light in the 2010s, feel good Beach Boys vibe with audacious alt rock edges
10. (3:13) Part of the ongoing tradition of female singers that record amid a background of bubbling melodious electronica
*11. (3:14) Reminded me of what “Et moi, et moi, et moi” would sound in modern times, simple but assertive guitar chords with garage rock edge
12. (3:39) Pumps you up, lots of catchy percussion and teenage-girl-with-attitude female vocals, what Tune-Yards might sound like if they sold out
13. (3:08) Edgy strings, stomping percussion, nice vocals
14. (4:35) Feel-good electro-pop
15. (3:21) Instumental beat, weirdly mellow, nice flute and percussion sample, strings come at the end to wrap up the track