What's the name of this French Jazz-Trip-Pop album and band?

January 27, 2006 8:04 AM

Around 2000, there was an album released from a French band that sounded like what would happen if Kind Of Blue Miles Davis and Portishead were to meet in a dark alley and get on really well. (In fact, that's basically the description given by Other Music ages ago, when I purchased the album.) I managed to lose it within a month and it's been bothering me for the last four or five years. I remember that the cover was blue and I really liked the record and that's basically it Any help, members of the green?
posted by beaucoupkevin to Media & Arts (31 answers total)

Nothing comes to mind as yet, but here's a list of French trip-hop albums. Some of them (Daft Punk?) don't particularly fit the label, but there's a good chance that a jazzy Portishead-like record would be listed among those. Anything ring any bells?
posted by Marquis at 8:07 AM on January 27, 2006

St. Germain, Tourist?. Released in 2000.
posted by rpn at 8:08 AM on January 27, 2006

Hmmm, the cover isn't blue... Didn't read that part. Still, a good album :).
posted by rpn at 8:10 AM on January 27, 2006

Response by poster: I've got Tourist and it's a bit more dance-oriented than the record I'm looking for. (Thanks for the link Marquis - it's a great resource, even if they don't like Nouvelle Vague.)
posted by beaucoupkevin at 8:11 AM on January 27, 2006

Sounds From The Verve Hi-Fi by Theivery Corporation?
posted by willmize at 8:20 AM on January 27, 2006

If it was released in 1998, then it might have been Moon Safari by Air. Awesome album, the band is french, and it has a lot of blue on the album cover.
posted by ND¢ at 8:26 AM on January 27, 2006

Alternatively, Air's 10,00 Hz Legend.

It's blue, jazzy, French and from the right timeframe. But, I wouldn't call it Miles Davis meets Portishead.
posted by generichuman at 8:37 AM on January 27, 2006

Opps, 10,000 Hz Legend
posted by generichuman at 8:37 AM on January 27, 2006

ok. was the cover mostly blue? like, blue background with some foreground stuff (title, artist, picture of some sort)? what shade of blue? bright? darker? was it in a style (blue note, etc.)? when you bought it, what section of the store did you get it from?
I know you said that you don't remember much, but it never hurts to ask.
posted by carsonb at 8:41 AM on January 27, 2006

it could possibly be... miles davis' remix? panthalassa?
posted by jadanzzy at 8:49 AM on January 27, 2006

Kind of Cool by Gare du Nord?

Somewhat younger than 2000 though...
posted by Skyanth at 8:53 AM on January 27, 2006

Response by poster: Willmize:
TTC aren't French, even if they look a wee bit shifty.

NDc and generichuman:
It's not Air. It's much more obscure than that.

CarsonB:
The cover is sky-blue with, I believe a beach or something at the very bottom of the frame. The record was purchased at Other Music in their Cambridge, MA location in their "Trip Hop" section, I believe.

Thanks for ALL the help you guys are offering, though.
posted by beaucoupkevin at 9:01 AM on January 27, 2006

Not French either, but maybe the Dining Rooms' Numero Deux?
posted by mookieproof at 9:13 AM on January 27, 2006

Inspired by an above comment, is it the Panthalassa remixes? Not really French, and doesn't sound (to my ears) like Miles-meets-Portishead, but DJ Cam's on there, at least.
posted by box at 9:35 AM on January 27, 2006

When you say 'record,' do you mean a CD, or a 12"?
posted by box at 9:35 AM on January 27, 2006

Water Methods? (Sorry, can't find cover art.)
posted by undertone at 9:52 AM on January 27, 2006

Hooverphonic? - They're belgaian, and the albums blue, and they sound like portishead.
posted by skrike at 9:56 AM on January 27, 2006

Laika?
Sounds of the Satellites
They are english, but seem to fit many of your other criteria.
posted by edgeways at 10:01 AM on January 27, 2006

Best answer: Blue States? - English... kind of fit the description.
posted by skrike at 10:06 AM on January 27, 2006

Could you mean Take My Head by Archive? They are not french, but they have a huge following in France (and the cover has a touch of blue...)
posted by dov at 11:11 AM on January 27, 2006

I'm going second Hooverphonic as an option based upon their sound and the whole blue thing.
posted by pwb503 at 11:31 AM on January 27, 2006

Is it Stereolab - First Of The Microbe Hunters ? Not French (but sing in French), and not an entirely blue cover, but close maybe?
posted by almostcool at 11:48 AM on January 27, 2006

Puzzle or Wallpaper for the Soul by Tahiti 80?

Or Sound of Water by Saint Etienne?
posted by mds35 at 12:03 PM on January 27, 2006

Nouvelle Vague?
posted by blacksky at 12:04 PM on January 27, 2006

Would you recognize the artist's name if you saw it? If so, then try looking here and also at the bands listed on this page.
posted by mds35 at 12:09 PM on January 27, 2006

You know what? You should give Other Music a call. They always seem to know what I;m talking about when I have a similar question. The music geeks that work there (and I mean that in a good way) will probably enjoy the challenge. If the OM folks in MA or NYC can't help, try calling the folks at Etherea.
posted by mds35 at 12:19 PM on January 27, 2006

This may be way off (the album cover is more of a plum color) and they reminded me of Stereolab, but maybe Holden?
posted by drobot at 1:25 PM on January 27, 2006

Response by poster: BLUE STATES IT IS. I dunno why I thought it was French, though.

Wow! Yay! Or, at least it's close enough to make me happy, so I'm ordering it tout suite so my life can, once again, have meaning.

RE: Calling the retail store. I've worked retail and I know there's nothing I hate more than someone calling me up with a "Hey, you know, uh, there's this album I want and uh, it's like totally, uh blue and uh...it was in your newsletter a few years ago." I part time at a local comics shop and it's a nightmare when that happens. Makes me almost wish I was at my real job.

EVERYONE:
Thank you all so much. I should have specified that it wasn't Hooverphone or Air, though. ;)
posted by beaucoupkevin at 2:17 PM on January 27, 2006

I've been on a trip-hop binge as of late, and Blue States is one of my recent favorites. By far, however, it's essential you get everything released by a UK duo named Bent.
posted by Mach3avelli at 5:06 PM on January 27, 2006

Response by poster: Oh, I do love Bent. Love, love, love them.

Like I love pie. And I am a very, very fat man.
posted by beaucoupkevin at 6:22 PM on January 27, 2006

I WIN! I WIN!

I think I just browsed through the trip-hop section on amazon and looked for any album that had blue on the cover. Glad I could help!

Enjoy.
posted by skrike at 1:32 PM on January 28, 2006