The new french movement: #4. Ahmad (Montpellier)

I've had a weakness for French rap ever since I discovered Le Funk Mob and Motorbass remixes on the MC Solaar b-sides that started to surface in the early nineties. That interest turned to addiction during (what I would define as) the golden age of French rap which I would define as around 1996-1999.

In my view, French producers outplayed most of their American counterparts in that era . With acts/producers such as DJ Kheops, IPM, La Cliqua, Double Pact and Sages Poètes de la Rue they brought something new to the game with minimalistic but hard boom-bap beats often with samples from non-traditional sources.

But as the millenium turned, many French acts followed their overseas colleagues in a spiral of bling-bling mentality, stereotype lyrics and beats. There are of course exceptions like some of the spin-off projects from the TTC-crew, Abd Al Malik and OFX but for a quite a while our focus has been elsewhere.

About two years ago something changed. If most acts (at least the once that got international recognition) earlier was based around Paris and Marseille now we got fresh sounds from all around the country. All those new encounters sparked us to kick off a new Beatheart's series entitled "The new French Movement".

Among the once we've covered here are #1. Don Da None (Caen) and #2. Zerolex (Besançon). Last year we met up with the Robert Glasper's evil twin in France - #3. Remi Panossian (Toulouse). More jazz than rap but they got that same fresh attitude and I still get the feeling that the musical innovation is spreading around the hexagone we know as La France. Last week, we discovered another interesting artist that is now our #4 feature in the series. Enjoy!

#4. AHMAD (MONTPELLIER)

Ahmad based in Montpellier is no newcomer with already three albums under his belt. But he recently released a whole string of videos, EP's and singles that to me represent that new movement of French musical innovation. Atmospheric instrumentals that tell a story of their own and could easily be stand-alone releases combined with beautiful poetic flows that makes Google Translate work hard to decipher. Just check the clip for "Drago" below:

To help those of you who don't speak French to appreciate his rhymes we got in contact with Ahmad and his team for an in-official translation of the lyrics for "Drago". Enjoy below.

The title "Drago" is a reference to Stallone's Rocky II movie with Russian Boxer Ivan Drago (played by Swedish actor Dolph Lundgren :) so the track begins with a quote from him: "if he dies - he dies".

My high kicks are just like Haikus / I want my Liquid Sword / Before choosing one of the 6 millions ways of meeting the homie Biggie Smalls / And I'm sounding just like a 6 chords guitar from Nashville / It's raining problems and I'm throwing a future together / I'm innovating in a dirty trick / Only crime pays, but how much does it cost ? /  I'm perfecting an itinerary which is oddly big / Waiting for a change to come just like Sam Cook / I got some childish dream; my sleep is the one of an adult / and trust me when I wake up, the bohemian lifestyle is being canceled / The nobel price is being smoke through a peace pipe / while the sun is in a bad mood. 

My launching ramp is in a bad shape / but I remain fair play : Detroit Pistons / I'm whispering a small detail, completing the course of History / strinking the future with a crystal ball / And I'm freestyling my motto / I'm turning over a new leaf but I'm falling asleep on the wheel / I'm here in this dirty world, so I can make figures with the alphabet / a humble happiness / and if he dies he dies, a russian boxer once told me / And you can check it out, I'm just kidding about it / It's the real truth, and it's true for real / a preamble on an epitaph / Broken dreams / Destiny / Plexiglas / And I'm dropping a verse in advance / But god be blessed, everything is not for sale.

Pretty awesome right?

Ahmad has just released an EP on Bandcamp entitled "Ne mourez jamais seul" (which I think translate to "Never die alone") and a clip called "Noveau Sinatra". He is currently working on new material for an upcoming album or EP hopefully due later this year. Be sure we'll keep you updated!

Ahmad on Bandcamp

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Beathearts top selections 2013: Top 3 Live performances

Great year for live performances! Among others we've been fortunate to experience Prince, Laura Mvula, Nas, Karriem Riggins, The Knife, Remi Panossian Trio, Jam City, Benji-B, Adam Beyer, Joel Mull, Ida Engberg, Junip, Kaah and many more.

In my mind the best three shows of the years was put together by an eclectic trio of performers to say the least: The Knife, Rémi Panossian Trio and Prince!

1. The Knife live @ Subtopia, Stockholm, May 16th 2013

Now, the Driejer siblings are a story of their own. For good and bad they're not compromising which often means that you either love or hate what they're doing. I'll admit I'm kind of a late follower of the Knife's work but since their 2006 album "Silent shout" I've been hooked.

This year was the first time I caught their live show and I must say I was blown away. All too many artists don't care about the venue, are sloppy with sound and light, let their record company chose the warm-up-act at random and often let the crowd wait for hours. This summer, the Dreijer's did the opposite:

They chose a venue normally used by a modern era cirkus with a great vibe. They had organised four or five food trucks serving quality (!) street food, coffee and drinks. Quality food at a concert is in my experience almost unheard of.

They had two warm-up acts to put the crowd in the right mood: first a steel drum band performing Beyoncé covers (!) followed by a Dance-oke group which was like a aerobics instructor leading the crowd to dance to music video clips projected on the walls. It ended with a crazy Bollywood video that lead right into the show with the crowd more than ready for the show. The show didn't really end but just transformed into a 90's rave vibe with DJ's seamlessly taking over with minimal techno set that lasted a couple of more hours. I must say I've never experienced such care into making all parts into ONE event. 

What about the show then? Well, if you're a fan you've probably already read the split reviews. If not, it's crazy. I different from anything else. Is it performance? Is it art? Is it live? Is it play-back? Does it really matter? I thought it was the best show of the year. No doubt.

I haven't found any great live shots from the show except for the Knife own photage. Needs to be experienced live but it gives you a taste.

2. Remi Panossian Trio @ Duc des Lombards, Paris, February 2013
While in Paris last winter one of the live events that caught our eye was by the Remi Panossian Trio at the Duc Des Lombards jazzclub. We had heard about them before but had never really took the time to check them out. The gig turned out to be the release party for their second album entitled BBANG and it blew us away. Experimental but still funky. Jazzy but with an edge.

We couldn't help relating to the Robert Glasper Experiment and wanted to know more. So we hooked up with Remi to bring you part 7 of our Beat Generation Series. They're continuously touring the world but we're very much looking forward to both new recorded material and a live show up north.

Read more: Beat Generation Series #7: Remi Panossian Trio (France)

3. Prince @ Music & Arts, Stockholm, August 4th 2013
Regulars might remember that we chose Prince as one of the artists of the year last year. Beathearts Top Selections 2012. I had never experienced Prince live before and had very mixed feelings before the show. His influence (from his older work) has never been stronger at the same time is his new material just as irrelevant. Either way the show was not what I expected but still great. He avoided almost any hit song (at least the first two and a half hours). Not many artists can do that and still rock the crowd. Actually I can't think of any artist or group that can do that. If I remember correctly he gave the crowd three (!) rounds of encores and performed for well over three hours. Not many artists of his magnitude would give their audience their all. Hats off for Prince Roger Nelson.

Download: Wax Poetics epic Prince mixtape

So what's coming up next year? Well, first off we're very much looking forward to the Kraftwerk 3D show @ the amazing Cirkus venue in Stockholm at the end of January!

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BEAT GENERATION SERIES #7: REMI PANOSSIAN TRIO (FRANCE)

In our quest to discover new soulful underground music we come across many up and coming musicians and producers from all around the world. We thought is was about time to put the spotlight on a few of them that we think are about to blow up. We call it The Beat Generation Series.

BEAT GENERATION SERIES #7: REMI PANOSSIAN TRIO (TOULOUSE, FRANCE)

While preparing for our recent trip to Paris one of the live events that caught our eye was by the Remi Panossian Trio at the Duc Des Lombards jazzclub. We had heard about them before but had never really took the time to check them out. The gig turned out to be the release party for their second album entitled BBANG and it blew us away. Experimental but still funky. Jazzy but with an edge. We wanted to know more and hooked up with Remi to bring you part 7 of our Beat Generation Series. Enjoy!

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1. We discovered you quite recently. I believe it was on Radio Nova and before they announced it was you, we were pretty convinced it was a new track from Robert Glasper. Can you see why?

Yes, I can understand on this particular song "Runaway" because there is an hiphop feeling, and Robert Glasper has an huge experience on mixing hiphop beat and jazz.

Remi Panossian Trio - Runaway (Live @ Duc Des Lombards, Paris)

2. The last few years we've covered serval jazz groups with a strong hiphop/club music influences. Groups like DJ Cam Quartet, The Robert Glasper Experiment, BadBadNotGood, El Michel's Affair and Will Sessions have literally blown up. Do you feel a part of that movement?

We never asked ourselves about that, why not? It seems that maybe the link between us is the mix between a lot of different music influences, jazz, hiphop, rock, electro, soul, funk, r'n'b. No frontiers!

3. Who were your musical heroes when growing up?

I grew up with jazz, my heroes was Michel Petrucciani, Keith Jarrett, Abdullah Ibrahim, Bill evans.  And then as a teenager I dicovered Radiohead, and I fell in love with all the 60's and 70's rock, soul and funk music as well. The velvet underground, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Marvin Gaye, Motown, The Head Hunters etc. Fred (drums) grew up with punk music then funk then jazz. Max (double bass) was more of a fan of progressive rock and classical music.

Listen to a selection of the tracks that have inspired the trio on Spotify:
Remi Panossian Trio - Inspirations Vol. 1

4. To us French pioneers such as Philippe Zdar, DJ Cam, Etienne de Crécy, The Mighty Bop and Boom Bass have been a huge inspiration. What is you relation to these artists if any?

Frankly speaking I have a lot respect for them because they are the first "french touch" but i didn't listen to their music a lot. But because of you I'm gonna do it now! Let's talk about that later :)

5. What are your inspirations today? Could you drop three albums or tunes that have recently blown your mind?

It's not totally recent but...
TV on the radio : "Dear science" (Listen on Spotify)
The Roots : "The Tipping point" (Listen on Spotify)
E.S.T. "Seven days of falling" (Listen on Spotify)

6. How did the three of you hook up?

I know Fred for 12 years when we were students in music school in toulouse, we play together in different bands for 8 years. I met Max in a Jam session in Toulouse 7 years ago and we played a few times together with vocalist or for ""one shot" gigs. In 2009 I decided to make a trio and of course I called my friends! Easy! We knew musically each other already well, so it worked immediatly!

7. Are you a solo artist as well?

This trio is 90 % of my time but I sometimes play with other bands, and especially with my girlfriend Frederika who is a great vocalist! Check her out on Myspace.

8. What does the creative process behind a new Rémi Panossian Trio tune look like? Jam sessions or more traditional song writing?

It's more like a Jam session around new material one of us bring. It could be anything, a groove, a bass line, some chords changes. And then we just explore possibilities and try to develop the first idea all together.

9. From what we've heard so far you're an instrumental group. Are there any dream collaborations with vocalists, rappers or others?

From my side I would say Tuned Adebimpe from TV on the Radio, and Lou Reed.

10. You’ve got such a unique sound. One of the first tracks we heard that blew us away was "Runaway". That break after 1.41 sounds just like a Dilla beat to us. Was it indeed inspired by Dilla or is that only in our heads? Could you tell us how that tune came about? 

It wasn't inspired directly by Dilla but I think by the hiphop we've listened to such as Dr Dre, The Roots and RZA. We're not hiphop specialist but we love the groove! I don't really remember how it came to us, i think it was during one of our sessions. We were working on the first part and then Fred I think suggest to break the tempo and played this groove so we tried things on it.

Listen on Spotify: Remi Panossian Trio - Runaway

11. Another tune that stunned us from you current BBANG album was "BBQ". Especially the way you experiment with the piano sounds playing a "muffled pizzicato" combined with a double bass and live beat. It reminds us of the late nineties drum'n'bass live sound from the likes of Roni Size's Reprazent project, Photek or Peshay. Could you tell us what inspired that tune?

For the sound of the piano, one of the thing we love is changing the acoustic sound without electronic equipment. It's actually just a tape on the strings and the sound becomes very different. And for the groove and bass line, I don't how it comes, we just love groove and so we try to find different one for each song.

Remi Panossian Trio - BBQ (2013)

12. What can we expect from the Rémi Panossian Trio in 2013?

A lot of gigs! We've got several great things planned. For example our first visit to Canada is next June and July. We're gonna play at Montreal jazz festival, Ottawa jazz festival, Vancouver jazz Festival, Halifax, and London (Ontario). Looking forward to it!

We also have two others tours in Asia and a great tour of France in October with a concert at the New Morning in Paris. And of course we'll continue to work on new material!

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Watch this space for a Beathearts exclusive clip from the Remi Panossian Trio. Coming up soon!

In the meanwhile enjoy The Remi Panossian Trio - Inspirations Vol.1 (Spotify)

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Rémi Panossian Trio - BBang

Dropped by Paris last weekend and among other amazing discoveries the Rémi Panossian Trio was a real gem. They just released their second album entitled BBANG and we were lucky enough to catch them live.

They performed a bad ass showcase three nights in a row at the intimate Duc Des Lombards jazzclub. BBANG is a twelve track album that is experimental yet funky, jazzy but with an edge. Open to influences from hiphop to electronic music this new crew out of Montpellier reminds us a lot of the Robert Glasper Experiment.

The album as a whole is great but our standout tracks are the BBQ and the Dillaesque jam Runaway.

Rémi Panossian - piano
Frédéric Petitprez - drums
Maxime Delporte - double bass

Get the album from your local dealer or then listen to the album on Spotify:
Rémi Panossian Trio - BBANG

We got in touch with Rémi to dig deeper. Watch this space for more on the trio in the near future.

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