Belgium is a great country. Not only do they have the best chocolates and beer in the world, they also have the most lively indie scene in Europe, except for the UK. But let’s be serious: the UK isn’t really Europe, right? Virtually every Belgian band seems to be connected to the band dEUS, from Ghent, whose last album The Ideal Crash was released in 1999, and is certainly one of the best albums of the last 10 years or so. I’m not talking shit here, The Ideal Crash is as high in my "best 90s albums" list as OK Computer or Björk’s Homogenic.
So, what has all this stuff about dEUS to do with Vive La Fête, which translates to ‘long live the party’ in English? Well, Vive La Fête is the band from Danny Mommens, who happens to be dEUS’ bass player. Together with his wife Els Pynoo they form the band. The music they make is in essence the 80s retrorock that is very hip amongst fashion peeps (the band played a set during the Chanel fashion presentation in 2002), deejays, and lots of people in general. What makes them different from, let’s say, Fischerspooner or Ladytron is the element of sex. What I mean is that if you didn’t know better, you could think that Nuit Blanche (‘sleepless night’) is the soundtrack to a silly eighties soft-porno movie, especially in tracks like Noir Desir or Mon Dieu, where Els Pynoo is so busy groaning that it’s difficult to focus on the music anymore.
Another point that distinguishes Vive La Fête from other records is the language. Instead of singing in English, they choose French, which is, arguably, more sexy. Don’t let this bother you because you’re afraid you won’t understand the lyrics, the lyrics aren’t much more complicated than "Make-up. It’s camouflage. I don’t like it." (from Maquillage).
So, if you’re up to something sexy and Belgian, check out this record. C’est très beau. Belgium is a great country. Not only do they have the best chocolates and beer in the world, they also have the most lively indie scene in Europe, except for the UK. But let's be serious: the UK isn't really Europe, right? Virtually every Belgian band seems to be connected to the band dEUS, from Ghent, whose last album The Ideal Crash was released in 1999, and is certainly one of the best albums of the last 10 years or so. I'm not talking shit here, The Ideal Crash is as high in my "best 90s albums" list as OK Computer or Björk's Homogenic.
So, what has all this stuff about dEUS to do with Vive La Fête, which translates to `long live the party' in English? Well, Vive La Fête is the band from Danny Mommens, who happens to be dEUS' bass player. Together with his wife Els Pynoo they form the band. The music they make is in essence the 80s retrorock that is very hip amongst fashion peeps (the band played a set during the Chanel fashion presentation in 2002), deejays, and lots of people in general. What makes them different from, let's say, Fischerspooner or Ladytron is the element of sex. What I mean is that if you didn't know better, you could think that Nuit Blanche (`sleepless night') is the soundtrack to a silly eighties soft-porno movie, especially in tracks like Noir Desir or Mon Dieu, where Els Pynoo is so busy groaning that it's difficult to focus on the music anymore.
Another point that distinguishes Vive La Fête from other records is the language. Instead of singing in English, they choose French, which is, arguably, more sexy. Don't let this bother you because you're afraid you won't understand the lyrics, the lyrics aren't much more complicated than "Make-up. It's camouflage. I don't like it." (from Maquillage).
So, if you're up to something sexy and Belgian, check out this record. C'est très beau.
1. Nuit Blanche
2. Touche Pas
3. Jaloux
4. Joyeux
5. Mon Dieu
6. Maladie d'un Fou
7. AC
8. Noir Desir
9. KL
10. Mr. le President
11. Maquillage
12. Adieu
More about: Vive La Fête
