FIB Heineken 2007 :: New Confirmations (3)

NEW CONFIRMATIONS

Antony and the Johnsons + The B-52´s + Brazilian Girls + Camera Obscura + Carl Craig + Cassius + Chloé + Chris Aliano + Ciëlo + Clap Your Hands Say Yeah + Damian Lazarus + Datarock + Digitalism + Dinosaur Jr. + DK7 + Ellen Allien + Go! Team +
Gus Gus + Jamie T + DJ Koze + Lo-Fi-Fnk + OK Go!+ The Pipettes + The Presets + The Rapture + Sascha Funke + Sondre Lerche + Tobias Thomas + Wilco + DJ Yoda

We have more POP and Singer-songwriters with:

One of the most heartfelt and heartrending voice on the music scene today – Antony and the Johnsons. Antony belongs to that artistic dream world alongside Billie Holiday and the characters from Warhol’s Factory, Lou Reed’s “Berlin” and Boy George’s “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?”. His latest release, “I Am a Bird Now” (2005), has earned him a hallowed spot among the aristocracy of contemporary pop music.

The B-52’s, from Athens, Georgia, the group that made “Rock Lobster”, “Lava”, “Planet Claire”, “Private Idaho” and “Devil in My Car” hymns of a generation – all of which come from two all-time masterpieces in pop history: “The B-52’s” (1979) and “Wild Planet” (1980). They will be performing at FIB Heineken 2007 – all of the original band members, with the exception of the ill-fated Ricky Wilson: the extraordinary voices of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson, accompanied by the unparalleled Fred Schneider and Keith Strickland on guitars. Pop music would simply not be the same without them.

Camera Obscura, coming to us from Scotland, followed in the footsteps of their illustrious compatriots Belle & Sebastian when they were riding high on the success of “If You’re Feeling Sinister” in the late 90s. Tracyanne Campbell surely never imagined then that she would some day write a song as good as “Like Dylan in the Movies”. Her ode to Lloyd Cole, “Lloyd, I’m Ready to Be Heartbroken” has become one of the hottest songs of the year.

The winner of The Cedar Room, the Englishman Chris Aliano. Acoustic guitars and stunning vocals are the only tools this guy from London needs to play his songs – in the tradition of Donovan, Ralph McTell and Bert Jansch.

The Go! Team is a six-man band from Brighton that mixes pop with soul, hip-hop, electronic beats and resounding melodies. Their version of the Sonic Youth classic “Bull in the Heather” is essential to any collection.

The new boy wonder of British pop goes by the name of Jamie T – 21 yeas old and from Wimbledon, somewhere between The Housemartins, The Clash and The Streets. The name of his first album is “Panic Prevention” (2007).

The Pipettes are a trio of girls from Britain, reminiscent of The Shangri-Las, Kylie Minogue and The Delmonas. Danceable pop with a 60s sensibility – three-voice harmonies and sparkly dresses.

From Bergen (Norway) – just like Kings of Convenience – comes Sondre Lerche. Old-school pop somewhere between XTC and The Beatles. Songs like “Say It All” have elevated this Norwegian to genius status.

And more ELECTRONIC POP…

House, bossa nova, reggae and cutting-edge electronic music live side by side in the songs of the band led by the evocative Sabina Sciubba, Brazilian Girls, whose latest release is “Talk to La Bomb” (2006).

Ciëlo features two luminaries from the Spanish indie scene: Cocó and Mario – contemporary electronic pop with clear European influences, and all the rage with D.A.F. downloads.

The Swedes Leo and August, otherwise known as Lo-Fi-Fnk. Pop with electronic undertones, hard-hitting melodies and hypnotic riffs – all to get you dancing!!!

The return from Iceland, after several years of inactivity, of Gus Gus, promoting their new release, “Forever” (2007) – and once again showcasing songs that navigate between pop and contemporary R&B.

The latest breed of electronic pop with The Presets – a duo formed in Sydney by Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes in 2003. “Girl and the Sea” put them on the map, and their album “Beams” (2005) only confirms their enormous melodic potential

And more ELECTRONIC MUSIC…

Following in the footsteps of Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson – the godfathers of Detroit techno – Carl Craig established himself as a producer in 1989 with Tori Amos’s remix of “God”. Since then, his legend has only grown. His extensive knowledge of music and his superb good taste are what have allowed him to make certain American pop classics all his own – such as his re-stylised version of the B-52’s “Mesopotamia”.

From Paris, we once again welcome Cassius, and his two mentors, Philippe Zdar and Boombass – names that are easily associated with other prestigious projects such as Motorbass, MC Solaar and La Funk Mob. Jazz, hip-hop, funk and acid-house come together, and well seasoned, with touches of the French electronic-music scene via Pierre Henry.

And, along the same lines as Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, but more oriented towards the dance floor, we welcome Datarock – a Norwegian duo that moves somewhere between funk and the falsetto choruses of the Bee Gees and DEVO.

Talking about getting us dancing, the German band known as Digitalism will be performing their pop-electronic and techno hits “Pogo” and “Jupiter Room”, among others.

DJ Yoda will give us an audiovisual show, synchronising not only audio and visuals but also “scratching”.

From Berlin, Ellen Allien has been blazing new trails in electronic music for a decade now, whether as the manager of B-Pitch Control or as the creator of new and suggestive electronic ambiances in the purest tradition of German techno.

The Festival will also be featuring sessions by Damian Lazarus, DJ Chloé, DJ Koze, DK7, Sascha Funke DJ and Tobias Thomas.

And more ROCK…

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, from Brooklyn, NY, promoting their recently released album “Some Loud Thunder” (2007). Somewhere between the Talking Heads’ “77” – “Satan Said Dance” – and The Modern Lovers.

The band that defined independent rock in the US, along with Pixies and Sonic Youth, was Dinosaur Jr. This three-guy band from Amherst, with its original band members – Murph, Barlow and Mascis – has been catching its second wind for a few years now, ever since it decided to revisit songs from its earlier days. “Beyond” is the name of its latest album – the first one recorded by the original band members since “Bug”. Think Hendrix, think Hank Williams, think Neil Young and you’ll get close to the idea.

The American band OK Go comes pumped up with its guitar-driven power-pop and great taste for catchy melodies, along the lines of the Romantics and 20/20. “OK Go!” (2002) and “Oh No” (2005) are two great ways to get to know this band.

From New York, The Rapture: electro-shocking guitars, thrilling basses and a certain singer, Luke Jenner – a cross between Robert Smith and David Byrne – whose voice will stick in your mind and get you humming their youth-inspired songs which are as compelling as stirring, heartfelt speeches. Discover their faith on “Pieces of the People We Love” (2006).

Wilco and, more specifically, Jeff Tweedy have written outstanding lyrics and music that have redefined the most recent history of American rock with albums like “Being There” (1996), “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” (2002) and their more recent and much-acclaimed “A Ghost Is Born” (2004), an album whose spectacular popularity is commensurate with the unanimous recognition of their prolific and exultant talent. It is an immense pleasure to finally welcome them to the Festival.

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