Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Indochine


Indochine is a French new wave/rock band formed in 1981. Original members were: the only remaining member, Nicola Sirkis, who later officially joined the band (vocals, guitars, and harmonica), his twin brother, Stéphane (guitar and keyboards), Dominique Nicolas (guitar), and Dimitri Bodianski, who was later added as the band's official line-up (saxophone). They gave their first concert at Le Rose Bonbon, a café in Paris on 29 September 1981. This brief performance on stage earned them their first contract with a record company. They recorded their first single in November 1981. It included two songs, Dizzidence Politik and Françoise, but drew more attention from critics than from the mainstream media and only reached a limited audience. Soon thereafter, in 1982, they released their first album, L'Aventurier, which sold more than 250, 000 copies in France. The album was well received by the press and by an emerging new wave audience. They continued releasing albums, achieving success in Scandinavia, Canada, and even in Latin America, especially in Peru. In 1990, Fans were shocked to discover that Dimitri Bodianski was no longer part of the group, having decided to leave the band in January 1989 . His departure can be attributed to a number of reasons. First of all, Indochine’s sound had evolved over the years and Dimitri found he had less and less to do as a saxophonist. He was also feeling pressure at home having recently become a father. All this contributed to tension between him and the rest of the band. Dimitri remains a much loved member of the original Indochine line-up and since his departure has guest starred with the band on stage. Also, in 1999 a tragedy occurred in the band when Stéphane Sirkis guitarist, keyboardist and Nicola's twin brother, died at the age of 39 of hepatitis. He had requested that the band continue after his death. The band kept their word when they continued releasing albums only that this time around with a different line-up. This consists of: founding member, vocalist and guitarist, Nicola Sirkis, Marc Eliard (bass player), Boris Jardel (guitarist), Mr. Shoes (François Soulier) (drummer), François Matuszenski (Matu) (keyboardist), and Oli de Sat (Olivier Gérard) (keyboardist and guitarist). The band has sold over 10 million albums and singles, making them the best selling French band.The band is currently celebrating their 30th anniversary and hopefully with more top-notch music, for what they're known for.

L'Aventurier (The Adventurer) (1982)

L'Aventurier is Indochine's debut album, released on November 15, 1982. When they recorded the album they already had written 5 demos, plus the already newly recorded, Dizzidence Politik, all of which they ultimately decided to record for real. This made the mini-album to contain 6 tracks. However, a first mixing of the album met with insatisfaction from the band, so they decided to record the album at the famous London studio, Red Bus. This album also contains their cover version of Jacques Dutronc's 1968 hit, L'Opportuniste (The Opportunist). The album has sold more than 250,000 copies in France. The album charted to #7 in France and #50 in Sweden. The following singles were released: Dizzidence Politik and L'Aventurier (#1 France, #12 Belgium).




Tracklisting:

1-) L'Aventurier. (The Adventurer).
2-) L'Opportuniste. (The Opportuniste).
3-) Leila.
4-) Docteur Love. (Doctor Love).
5-) Indochine (Les 7 Jours de Pékin). (Indochine (The 7 Days of Pekin).
6-) Dizzidence Politik. (Political Dissidence).
7-) Françoise (Qu'est-ce qui T'as Pris?). (Françoise (What Did you Take?).

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Le Péril Jaune (The Yellow Danger)

Le Péril Jaune is Indochine's second studio album, released on November 28, 1983. Some of the album's backing tracks suffer of careless mixing due to the repeated failed attempts of the digital console and the denial of giving more time to mixe them more carefully. Once again, this album makes references to the Oriental culture but this time the band incorporated more in their lyrics Asian cinematography, giving the songs more of a visual impact. For example, Razzia sur la Chnouf in the track Razzia; Mount Krakatoa in A L'Est de Java. The drawn geisha in the album cover would later come and play an important role for the tour promotion, also appearing in t-shirts and badges. The album charted to #12 in France, selling 225, 000 copies there and charted to #9 in Sweden. The following singles were released: Miss Paramount (#9 France, #26 Belgium) and Kao-Bang (#24 France, #9 Sweden).




Tracklisting:

1-) Le Péril Jaune (Ouverture). (The Yellow Danger) (Opening).
2-) La Sécheresse du Mecong. (The Drought of the Mecong).
3-) Razzia.
4-) Pavillon Rouge. (Red Pavillion).
5-) Okinawa.
6-) Tonkin.
7-) Miss Paramount.
8-) Shanghai.
9-) Kao-Bang.
10-) A L'Est de Java. (To the East of Java).
11-) Le Péril Jaune (Fermeture). (The Yellow Danger) (Closure).

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3 (1985)

3 is Indochine's third studio album, released on May 10, 1985. This album marks the beginning of the band's maturing sound in their music and as the first signal of their musical evolution. In terms of popular success, this album is the band's zenith, having all generations chanting in unison the names of the key titles of the album, such as 3ème Sexe, which would receive a lot of attention because it's an anthem about tolerating the way you dress and of sexual diversity. Canary Bay is about lesbianism dealt with in a subtle way. 3 Nuits Par Semaine is directly based on Marguerite Duras's novel, The Lover, which is strong in its erotic demeanor. The name of the album was chosen because of the religion meaning the number 3 holds. There are several tracks and references of its title. For instance, 3ème Sexe, 3 Nuits Par Semaine. The number of tracks which this album contain, 9, is a multiple of 3. Tes Yeux Noirs is about breaking up and wishing to love someone else. This album has sold 825, 000 copies in France. This album charted to #2 in France and #9 in Sweden. The following singles were released: Canary Bay (#12 France, #16 Belgium), 3ème Sexe (#1 France, #3 Belgium), and Tes Yeux Noirs (#3 France, #8 Belgium).





Tracklisting:

1-) 3ème Sexe (The Third Sex).
2-) Canary Bay.
3-) Monte Cristo.
4-) Salombo.
5-) Hors-La-Loi. (Outside the Law).
6-) A L'Assaut (Des Ombres Sur L'O). (To The Search (The Shadows over the O).
7-) 3 Nuits Par Semaine. (3 Nights per Week).
8-) Le Train Sauvage. (The Wild Train).
9-) Tes Yeux Noirs. (Your Black Eyes).

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Indochine Au Zenith (Indochine at the Zenith) (1986)

Indochine Au Zénith is Indochine's first live album, released on October 4, 1986. The concert was recorded on March, 1986, which was the sold-out live gig that the group did, to celebrate the band's 5th anniversary. It's a living proof that the band received more than 150,000 spectators in 55 dates between December 15, 1985 and July 30, 1986. The CD version of this album includes two bonus tracks: A L'Est De Java and Tes Yeux Noirs, only track recorded during the band's summer tour and not from their Zénith date. The opening track is a cover of the music taken from the movie How the West Was Won by Henry Hathaway, John Ford, and George Marshall, released in 1962. The album has sold more than 350, 000 copies in France. The album reached to #7 in France and #1 in Peru. Only one single was taken from this album and it was the live version of A L'Assaut (Des Ombres Sur L'O).

Tracklisting:

1-) Ouverture (La Conquete de L'Ouest).
2-) A L'Assaut (Des Ombres Sur L'O).
3-) Canary Bay.
4-) L'Opportuniste.
5-) 3ème Sexe.
6-) L'Aventurier.
7-) A L'Est de Java.
8-) Salombo.
9-) Miss Paramount.
10-) 3 Nuits Par Semaine.
11-) Kao-Bang.
12-) Dizzidence Politik.
13-) Tes Yeux Noirs.

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7000 Danses (7000 Dances) (1987)

7000 Danses is Indochine's fourth studio album, released on October 12, 1987. The recording of the album took place in February 1987 at Studio Miraval and its recording continued at Air Studio in the Caribbean island of Montserrat. It later continued at Red Bus studios in London in June, 1987. During this time, the band received pressure from the media and they were forced to release a new single, even though they had few completed song at that time. They released Les Tzars, with cool reception from Télé Poche magazine who said that the single was of medium quality. Also, the band was attacked because, according to the media, they were a bad copy of The Cure. Nonetheless, the album marked a successful evolution as it showed their first significant shift in their career. The album cover is a perfect example. It's a picture of Masahisa Fukase called Ravens and it was put against a dark background which sets the mood of the album. Left behind were the bright colors and references to the Orient. What surprises the listener the most is the crude sound of the album, as it is more rock but it possesses rich arrangements and a production worthy of international releases, as the drums substitute music boxes. This album was a breath of fresh air for the band. The album sold 350, 000 copies in France. The album charted to #5 in France. It spawned the following singles: Les Tzars (#1 France, #4 Belgium), La Machine à Rattraper les Temps (#49 France), and La Chevauchée des Champs de Blé (#81 France).





Tracklisting:

1-) La Buddha Affaire. (The Buddha Affair).
2-) Les Citadelles. (The Citadels).
3-) La Chevauchée des Champs de Blé. (The Cavalcades of the Wheat Fields).
4-) Il y a un Risque (Le Mépris). (There is a Risk) (The Contempt).
5-) Les Tzars. (The Czars).
6-) La Machine à Rattraper les Temps. (The Machine to Recapture Time).
7-) Un Grand Carnival. (A Great Carnival).
8-) 7000 Danses. (7000 Dances).
9-) Une Maison Perdue. (A Lost House).

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Le Baiser (The Kiss) (1990)

Le Baiser is Indochine's fifth studio album, released on February 5, 1990. This is the first album after Dimitri Bodianski's --the saxophone player-- departure from the band. After the exhausting year they had in 1988, the band decided to take a break for a few months. Later, in 1989, the band set ground on what they wanted for their next album. They recruited Philippe Eidel, which was their producer for their 3 album. He found out that the band wanted a much more reduced use of machines to make space for a more acoustic sound. The band uses little known musical instruments such as the Santour and the Kemantche (Iranian musical instruments). In regards of lyrics, Nicola Sirkis --whose voice had matured-- was heavily influenced by J.D. Salinger, Man Ray and Blaise Cendrars, as well as making references to his own personal experience in a very personal and intimate level, in regards of break-ups. Gérard Bar-David, from the Best journal, notices the effective recapture, simplicity, emotion, and musical eclecticticism of the album. This album sold 250, 000 copies in France. The album charted to #9 in France. It spawned the following singles: Le Baiser (#23 France, #18 Belgium), Des Fleurs Pour Salinger (#3 France, #1 Belgium), and Punishment Park (#34 France).





Tracklisting:

1-) Le Baiser. (The Kiss).
2-) Des Fleurs Pour Salinger. (Flowers for Salinger).
3-) More…
4-) Alertez Managua. (Alert, Managua).
5-) Les Années Bazar. (The Bazar Years).
6-) Punishment Park.
7-) Soudain L'Été Dernier, Je Suppose. (Suddenly Last Autumn, I Suppose).
8-) Les Plus Mauvaises Nuits. (The Worst Nights).
9-) Persane Thème. (Persian Theme).
10-) Tant de Poussière. (So Much Dust).
11-) La Colline des Roses. (The Hill of Roses).

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Un Jour Dans Notre Vie (A Day in our Life) (1993)

Un Jour Dans Notre Vie is Indochine's sixth studio album, released on November 22, 1993. After the release of their 10th anniversary album, The Birthday Album, the band decides to return to the studio. They returned to the Miraval Studio, where they recorded the 7000 Danses album in 1987. When the time to choose a producer came, tensions arose within the band. Nicola Sirkis wanted a cruder sound while Dominique Nicolas prefers to work once again with producer Philippe Edel, who had been working with the band for the past decade. Nicola Sirkis has the last say, ultimately. Even if the production and some of the tracks were not unanimous, this album contains some of Dominique Nicolas best compositions: La Main sur Vous, Un Jour Dans Notre Vie, Vietnam Glam or still Savoure le Rouge with its catchy guitar riff and its sensual lyrics inspired by painter Egon Schiele. The album sold 90, 000 copies in France. The following singles were released: Savoure le Rouge, Un Jour Dans Notre Vie (#51 France), and Sur les Toits du Monde (as a promo-only single).




Tracklisting:

1-) Savoure le Rouge. (Taste the Red).
2-) Sur les Toits du Monde. (Over the World's Rooftops).
3-) Un Jour dans Notre Vie. (A Day in Our Life).
4-) Anne et Moi. (Anne and Me).
5-) La Main sur Vous. (The Hand over You).
6-) Some Days.
7-) Bienvenue chez les Nus. (Welcome to the Wastelands).
8-) D'ici Mon Amour. (From Here My Love).
9-) Candy Prend Son Fusil. (Candy Takes Her Rifle).
10-) Ultra S.
11-) Vietnam Glam.
12-) Crystal Song Telegram.

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Wax (1996)

Wax is Indochine's seventh studio album, released on November 4, 1996. This album was produced by Jean-Pierre and Alexandre Azaria under BMG Records. This album was the first one done without guitarist Dominique Nicolas. It has been the lowest in sales and has also been criticized and ridiculed by the media, claiminig that this album was the death of Indochine. Ironically, this album is the one that will mark the start of the resurrection of the band. This album has sold 100, 000 copies in France. The following singles were released: Kissing My Song (#73 France), Drugstar (#42 France), Je n'embrasse pas and Satellite.




Tracklisting:

1-) Unisexe (Unisex).
2-) Révolution (Revolution).
3-) Drugstar.
4-) Je n'embrasse pas. (I Don't Hug).
5-) Coma, Coma, Coma.
6-) Echo-Ruby.
7-) Les Silences de Juliette (Juliette's Silences).
8-) Satellite.
9-) Mire (Live) (Objective).
10-) Ce Soir, Le Ciel (Tonight, the Sky).
11-) Kissing My Song.
12-) L'Amoureuse (The Loving One).
13-) Peter Pan.

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Dancetaria (1999)

Dancetaria is Indochine's eighth studio album, released on August 24, 1999. This album was released following Stéphane Sirkis's death on February 27, 1999. 4 of the songs on the album include guitar riffs composed by Stéphane himself, shortly before his death. Oliver Gérard, better known as Oli de Sat, made the first arrangements. This album is called as Pop Glam Rock by Nicola Sirkis. The album has sold 100, 000 copies in France. It peaked to #14 in France and #7 in Belgium. The following singles were released: Juste Toi et Moi (#56 France, #37 Belgium), Stef II, Atomic Sky (released in Belgium only, #39 Belgium), Dancetaria (released as a promo-only single), and Justine (#20 France, #14 Belgium).




Tracklisting:

1-) Dancetaria.
2-) Juste Toi et Moi. (Only You and Me).
3-) Manifesto (Les Divisions de la Joie). (Manifesto (The Divisions of Joy).
4-) Justine.
5-) Atomic Sky.
6-) Rose Song.
7-) Stef II.
8-) She Night.
9-) Venus.
10-) Astroboy.
11-) Halleluya. (Hallelujah).
12-) Le Message. (The Message).

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Paradize (2002)

Paradize is Indochine's ninth studio album, released on March 12, 2002. This album is considered as the revival of Indochine. It made the group renew success after a difficult period in the 90's. The songs on the album have a more rock sound than in the previous albums thanks to Oli de Sat, the band's new composer, guitarist and arranger. He has cited Placebo, Marilyn Manson, and Nine Inch Nails as some of his musical influences. At the same time, the British producer Gareth Jones (frequent producer for Depeche Mode and Erasure), injected in this album a range of highly specialized electronic arrangements, helping to put the group up to date. Nicola Sirkis explores the same themes for his lyrics: Sex (Punker, Marilyn, Paradize, Le Grand Secret), religion (Like a Monster, Dark), the adolescent discomfort (Comateen I, Le Manoir, Mao Boy!), or the death of his twin brother Stéphane Sirkis (Electrastar). The single, J'ai Demandé à La Lune has become one of the group's most legendary songs of their entire career. The album has sold 1,200,000 copies in France, making this album their best selling one of all time. It reached #2 in France and #1 in Belgium. This album spawned the following singles: Punker (#67 France), J'ai Demandé à La Lune (#1 France, #1 Belgium, #14 Sweden), Mao Boy! (#8 France, #20 Belgium), Le Grand Secret (#6 France, #5 Belgium), Marilyn (#5 France, #8 Belgium), and Un Singe en Hiver (#19 France, #15 Belgium).





Tracklisting:

1-) Paradize. (Paradise).
2-) Electrastar.
3-) Punker.
4-) Mao Boy!
5-) J'ai Demandé à La Lune (I Asked the Moon).
6-) Dunkerque.
7-) Like a Monster.
8-) Le Grand Secret (ft. Melissa Auf der Maur) (The Big Secret).
9-) La Nuit des Fées (The Night of the Fairies).
10-) Marilyn.
11-) Le Manoir (The Manor).
12-) Popstitute.
13-) Dark.
14-) Comateen I.
15-) Un Singe en Hiver (A Monkey in Winter).

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Alice & June (2005)

Alice & June is Indochine's tenth studio album, released on December 19, 2005. After the success of their previous album, Paradize, the band isolated themselves in order to record what would be Alice & June. As with Paradize, this album was composed of many collaborations such as Brian Molko, AqME, and Wampas. The album has sold 450, 000 copies in France. It reached to #1 in France and in Belgium. It spawned the following singles: Alice & June (#1 France, #2 Belgium), Lady Boy (#9 France, #5 Belgium), Adora (#10 France, #34 Belgium), and Pink Water 3 (as a promo-only single).





Tracklisting:

CD 1:

1-) La Promesse. (The Promise).
2-) Les Portes du Soir. (The Doors of Night).
3-) Alice & June.
4-) Gang Bang.
5-) Ladyboy.
6-) Black Page.
7-) Pink Water 3 (ft. Brian Molko).
8-) Adora.
9-) Un Homme dans la Bouche. (A Man in the Mouth).
10-) Vibrator.
11-) Ceremonia.

CD 2:

1-) Le Pacte. (The Pact).
2-) June.
3-) Sweet Dreams.
4-) Belle et Sebastiane. (Belle and Sebastiane).
5-) Crash Me.
6-) Aujourd'hui Je Pleure. (Today I Cry).
7-) Harry Poppers.
8-) Talulla.
9-) Morphine.
10-) Starlight.

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La République des Meteors (The Republic of Meteors) (2009)

La République des Meteors is Indochine's eleventh and so far last studio album, released on March 9, 2009. The album has as a theme the one of absence, whether it was because of a death or a separation. Nicola Sirkis found inspiration in the writings of Apollinaire and the letters that the young soldiers sent to their families in World War I. The clips of two tracks of the album are explicit. The video for the song Little Dolls shows archival footage of the two World Wars and the video for Le Lac shows Nicola Sirkis wearing the uniform of a soldier of the Great War. The album has sold 300, 000 copies in France. It charted to #2 in France and in Belgium. The following singles were released: Little Dolls (#7 France, #1 Belgium), Play Boy (#7 France, #18 Belgium), Le Lac (#11 France, #5 Belgium), Un Ange á Ma Table (#5 France, #17 Belgium), et Le Dernier Jour.





Tracklisting:

1-) Republika Meteor Overture. (Meteor Republic Overture).
2-) Go, Rimbaud, Go!
3-) Junior Song.
4-) Little Dolls.
5-) Le Grand Soir. (The Big Night).
6-) Un Ange à Ma Table (ft. Suzanne Combeaud). (An Angel at My Table).
7-) La Lettre de Métal. (The Metal Letter).
8-) Le Lac. (The Lake).
9-) Republika.
10-) Play Boy.
11-) L World.
12-) Je t'aime Tant. (I Love You So Much).
13-) Bye Bye Valentine.
14-) Les Aubes Sont Mortes. (The Blades Are Dead).
15-) Union War.
16-) Le Dernier Jour. (The Last Day).

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Putain de Stade (The Stadium's Whore) (2011)

Putain de Stade is a live album by Indochine, released on January 17, 2011. This was extracted from a concert which took place at the Stade de France on June 26, 2010. This was also released in DVD form. Its release coincides with the 30th anniversary of the band and this live album is a walk down memory lane of their career. The album charted to #2 in France. One single was released and that was Alice & June but as a promo-only single.

Tracklisting:

CD 1:

1-) Meteor Overture.
2-) Go, Rimbaud, Go!
3-) Marilyn.
4-) Little Dolls.
5-) Play Boy.
6-) Punker.
7-) Drugstar.
8-) Miss Paramount.
9-) Le Lac.
10-) J'ai Demandé à La Lune.
11-) Atomic Sky.
12-) 3ème Sexe.
13-) Tes Yeux Noirs.
14-) Un Ange à Ma Table.
15-) Alice & June.
16-) Popstitute.

CD 2:

1-) Club Meteor.
2-) Le Baiser.
3-) 3 Nuits Par Semaine.
4-) Le Grand Soir.
5-) Salombo.
6-) Monte Cristo.
7-) Kao-Bang.
8-) She Night.
9-) Electrastar.
10-) Soulwax.
11-) La Lettre de Métal.
12-) Intro L'Aventurier.
13-) L'Aventurier.
14-) Le Dernier Jour.

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