In 1982, the world was inundated by new wave as well as a variety of raw, experimental sounds that were liberating in their limited technical scope. Punk taught people to use what they had at hand in order to create, regardless of budget or process. At the same time, the kids were dancing to Human League, Yazoo, and the hypnotic syncopation of Kraftwerk, and probably no one was betting that decades later these parallel musical renaissances would still be relevant.
Yet here we are, with the assorted strains of cold wave, technicolor new wave, DIY punk, and the youthful enthusiasm of yé-yé all converging in La Femme, a French band that transcends its forbears by standing on their shoulders and pointing its own way forward. Imagine Serge Gainsbourg duetting with the Velvet Underground covering Daft Punk, and you’re in the ballpark. La Femme are not constrained by era or genre, and easily switch up themes, bringing a whole new attitude to the dance party. All while still sounding like La Femme, a feat reserved for bands that have a distinct “thing.”
Despite what might be considered a minimalist approach to music, La Femme’s look is maximalist in the Sigue Sigue Sputnik sense: big hair, flashy clothes, all in-your-face style that makes watching them perform akin to a rugby match. Where should you look? Who gets your attention when everyone is a character worthy of their own close-up?
This attention to aesthetics, along with their catchy spare music, has captured the hearts and minds of France, but has also bled into the fringes of the American blogosphere. Say what you will about globalization, but making the world more intimate for artists has done wonders for the discovery and proliferation of talent. What once would have been a dubbed tape being mailed across the pond has only to be a flashy YouTube video or word-of-mouth Soundcloud track to catch fire and ignite a career. Hopefully La Femme’s ongoing Rock Machine America Tour, named for their first fully English-language album, makes converts of a new generation of musically focused space cadet bon vivants.
La Femme play 7pm Friday, October 3 at The Ground in Miami. lafemmemusic.com ~ Tim Moffatt
