New Pangea presents the debut solo release of Manu Louis, two existential looney tunes – hyperactive chanson for the digital age, minus that pretentious French.
Connecting polar extremes instead of choosing the middle ground, Manu collides the exotic and glamorous pop music of his youth with the tacky sounds of the native folk trash he always tried his best to ignore: brass bands, Eurodance, industrial trance and wedding entertainers.
“Tchouang Tseu (was at the Kermesse of M. Ha)” features a drum corps of worker ants traversing the grid of the blanket, homing in on the picnic lunch of feral synthesizers that underscore Manu’s lyrical musings: “An empty brain is a brain that can understand.” Veteran electronic musician Felix Kubin says: “Really fun(ky), clever and playful music—I'd be happy to hear it in the aquarium of the deep sea club anytime.” Watch out for the animated music video in late September, premiering on SPEX.de.
Flip that baby over, and “Music from the Hotdog Stand” serenades you with a cacophony of chintzy MIDI accordion, interrupted by a frantic six-piece horn section.
These two songs offer a glimpse of what’s to come: Following Manu’s previous work in pop groups and as a composer for classical ensembles, the Belgian Berliner is going to crash your party next year with his first own full-length album.
credits
released October 2, 2015
credits
released March 23, 2016
All songs written and produced by Manu Louis.
Recorded at Studio Pyramide (Brussels) and Studio Sette (Rome).
Mixed by Alex Davidson (Brussels).
Mastering by Artefacts Mastering (Berlin).
Illustration by Stefan Fähler.
"Tchouang Tseu (was at the Kermesse of M. Ha)" performed by M.L. (vocals, all instruments) & Sarah Klenes (vocals).
"Music from the Hotdog Stand" performed by M.L. (vocals, guitar, electronics), Stefan Pougin (drums), Pascal Rousseau (tuba), Da Sigma Brass Quintet: Antoine Dawans & Jonathan Bernard (trumpet), Jonathan Rongvaux (French horn), JeanFrançois Cosentino (trombone), JeanJulien Servais (tuba), Sarah Klenes (vocals), Dan Barbenel (organ), Stefano Vicarelli (keyboard).
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