Bix Medard

CD review - Bix Medard "Take A Deep Breath". Review by justintime for WRUV radio. September 2011. Belgian electro-duo Bix Medard returns with their third album, Take A Deep Breath. The album has a certain quirky yet engaging feel to it. Considered “nouvelle chanson Francaise”, it’s a mix of Dreampop, Electro-Gothic, and Indie Dance with a Trip Hop vibe. Bix’s sensuous vocals are delivered in more of a string of words, almost spoken word kind of way giving it an experimental/Avant Garde feel. As well, the lyrics are sung in French, English, Japanese and Italian adding a cool international feel to it. The results is an electro-acoustic downbeat album that’s bizarre yet familiar, urban yet would sound good in a shabby country cafe. http://reviews.wruv.org/2011/09/take-a-deep-breath/ - Justintime for WRUV radio

CD Review by the Music Critic. Bix Medard, the idiosyncratic Belgian/Norwegian duo return with another great album of atmospheric grooves and cinematic, trippy beats. They’re a talented bunch this lot. Take a Deep Breath is edgier, darker and more stark than last year’s excellent Y Dress. Peter Clasen has excelled himself with his bass playing and guitar riffs most notably on Are You Ready? the stand out track, clever, cool, dramatic and inventive. The title track Take a Deep Breath sees them at their most quirky and weirdest. Apart is a gothic love song, the sultry vocals have an esoteric almost Portishead feel. There’s some nice touches throughout especially the garage psychedelic guitar and haunting flute which really add to the modern city soundscape. Fans of Bix Medard won’t be disappointed with Take a Deep Breath as Bix and Peter continue to sculpt the sonic landscape. - The Music Critic (UK)

CD review by Jon Gordon for Tasty fanzine. Robotic electro rhythms, slithering basslines, sultry female vocals, sample mixers and sonic collagists Bix Medard aim for loungebar territories previously inhabited by Portishead and Royksopp, with the Orb serving the beers and St Etienne in the cloakroom. It's a formula which Bix Medard know how to reproduce without ever quite repeating themselves, a place where just the sound of the song is what you are hearing and the idea is more important than the actual object which represents it. The mood, as it develops, is a dark and claustrophobic one. It's a very grey day in Liege, where the Belgian/Norwegian duo live and where the album was recorded. - Jon Gordon for Tasty fanzine

http://monolithcocktail.wordpress.com/choice-picks-of-2011/ Bix Medard ‘Take A Deep Breath’ (Altair Musik) LP The odd Norwegian/Belgium couple Bix Medard, have produced one of 2011s most languorous records. Partly conceptual, partly recondite, the ‘nouvelle chanson Francoise’ tag only goes so far in describing their yearning Trip-hop sound. Floating through slow jazz, Pola X era Walker and U-She, the amorous, and often strange, beguiling vocals and backing take time to infiltrate the listeners world. - monolithcocktail.wordpress.com

BIX MEDARD on adequacy.net (Indie music news)

http://www.adequacy.net/2011/0..6/new-album-from-french-band-b..ix-medard/

New album from French band Bix Medard
June 7, 2011 by Jen Stratosphere Fanzine
Category: News

When people hear the word "French Pop" many people assume that it's going to be something campy & ironic like Nouvelle Vague or Serge Gainsbourg. Well, there's nothing campy about BIX MEDARD, the Belgian/Norwegian duo with feet in both the music and the art world, who eschew the usual gig circuit and choose to perform in art galleries and fashion shows around the world, including Japan. On their new album "TAKE A DEEP BREATH", multi-instrumentalist PETER CLASEN and vocalist BIX combine elements of Coco Rosie, Bjork, and yes, Serge Gainsbourg to create a sound reminiscent of Charlotte Gainsbourg only sung in several different languages, including English, French, Italian, Japanese and Norwegian. That's certainly a record that we'd like to hear, and we're clearly not alone, since their last album 2009's "Y-DRESS?" went to #29 on the taste maker CMJ College Radio chart. BIX MEDARD'S "TAKE A DEEP BREATH", is available at http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/take-a-deep-breath/id417554185 - Jen Stratosphere Fanzine

CD review Bix Medard "Take a deep breath" by Jessie Helgesen for KSCR Radio, Los Angeles.

Bix Medard explores multiple styles of music in their songs. Their latest album, "Take A Deep Breath" has the elements of alternative rock, new wave, electronica, and French pop. Their skill of combing multiple genres within their music makes their sound entirely unique. They are artistically influenced in many ways from performance, painting, writing, and music which is expressed in their music as well. Their experimental style is easy to listen to. Bix Medard's "talk-y," simple lyrics over electronic melodies makes for a very memorable album.
Review by Jessie Helgesen for KSCR Radio, Los Angeles, USA.

http://kscr.usc.edu/?a=view&id=9598

Bix Medard "Take a deep breath" out now …. http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/take-a-deep-breath/id417554185 - Jessie Helgesen for KSCR Radio, Los Angeles

CD review – Bix Medard "Take a deep breath" by Eloise Quince for www.tastyfanzine.org.uk.

CD review – Bix Medard "Take a deep breath" by Eloise Quince. Sultry and sexy are this Norwegian/Belgian outfit that go by the name of Bix Medard. An eerie gothic overtone rides amongst the bobbing electro pop that encases everything. Songs such as 'Take a Deep Breath' and 'Sur Les Marches' have a beautiful echo surrounding the vocals whereas 'Are You Ready?' has a more robotic ambience that takes a dark turn when teamed with a Dracula-esque organ. The fact that a lot of the vocals are in French also adds to the humid atmosphere as well as adding a slight exotic slant to my English ears. Although new and exciting, I have to say that you wouldn't want to listen to this alone too often, as more sinister quality takes over, sounding like a bizarre arthouse horror film. I must admit that I did just lock all of the doors. Nevertheless, in terms of invigorating the experimentalists, this album has rather done the trick.
(Eloise Quince for www.tastyfanzine.org.uk)
http://www.tastyfanzine.org.uk/albums113aug11.htm#BixMedard
Bix Medard "Take a deep breath" out now …. http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/take-a-deep-breath/id417554185 - Eloise Quince for www.tastyfanzine.org.uk

CD review – Bix Medard "Take a deep breath" by Eloise Quince for www.tastyfanzine.org.uk.

CD review – Bix Medard "Take a deep breath" by Eloise Quince. Sultry and sexy are this Norwegian/Belgian outfit that go by the name of Bix Medard. An eerie gothic overtone rides amongst the bobbing electro pop that encases everything. Songs such as 'Take a Deep Breath' and 'Sur Les Marches' have a beautiful echo surrounding the vocals whereas 'Are You Ready?' has a more robotic ambience that takes a dark turn when teamed with a Dracula-esque organ. The fact that a lot of the vocals are in French also adds to the humid atmosphere as well as adding a slight exotic slant to my English ears. Although new and exciting, I have to say that you wouldn't want to listen to this alone too often, as more sinister quality takes over, sounding like a bizarre arthouse horror film. I must admit that I did just lock all of the doors. Nevertheless, in terms of invigorating the experimentalists, this album has rather done the trick.
(Eloise Quince for www.tastyfanzine.org.uk)
http://www.tastyfanzine.org.uk/albums113aug11.htm#BixMedard
Bix Medard "Take a deep breath" out now …. http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/take-a-deep-breath/id417554185 - Eloise Quince for www.tastyfanzine.org.uk

CD review Bix Medard "Take a deep breath" by Jessie Helgesen for KSCR Radio, Los Angeles.

Bix Medard explores multiple styles of music in their songs. Their latest album, "Take A Deep Breath" has the elements of alternative rock, new wave, electronica, and French pop. Their skill of combing multiple genres within their music makes their sound entirely unique. They are artistically influenced in many ways from performance, painting, writing, and music which is expressed in their music as well. Their experimental style is easy to listen to. Bix Medard's "talk-y," simple lyrics over electronic melodies makes for a very memorable album.
Review by Jessie Helgesen for KSCR Radio, Los Angeles, USA.

http://kscr.usc.edu/?a=view&id=9598 - Jessie Helgesen for KSCR Radio, Los Angeles

Bix Medard – Take A Deep Breath (Altair Musik)

By Dominic Valvona, for God is in the TV zine (UK), May 31, 2011.

The amorous cooing and slowly unfolding, finely-tuned, sculptured soundscapes of Bix Medard prove a challenge to define or sum up in any review. Part conceptual, and partly recondite yearning pop; the pairing of Norwegian chanteuse flute player Bix, and her Belgian sparring partner Peter Clasen – also known as Medard – are often filed under the “nouvelle chanson Française” tag, which goes some way towards explaining their brand of Euro-rich synth and live instrument sound. Bix switches between dialects; breathlessly wooing, dictating or incidental meandering in French, English, Italian and Japanese; all the while a much understated, yet acutely arranged and executed, trip-hop backing track underwrites each of the 12 oblique traversing songs.

Strains of Portishead can be heard throughout, as well as the occasional reference to Holger Czukay’s U-She collaboration – especially on their more melodic synthesized string moments – and even nods to Pil. On the moronic slow-jazz thriller, ‘Apart’, they rework Blondies ‘Sunday Girl’ for the ambient trance market, and filter the Pola X and Toxic Affair soundtrack compositions of Scott Walker, with a touch of Outside era Bowie, for ‘Sur Les Marches’.

Bix Medard’s second opus is pretty generous, with a running time of nigh on an hour, though their indolent coquettish drifting musical suites can be laboured – there’s at least four tracks that could safely lose a minute, before they fizzle out and run their course. ‘Take A Deep Breath’ isn’t just an album title, it’s also an instruction for the experience you’re about to partake of: submerged in a post Factory Records haze of drowning electro art.

So far one of 2011's more inventive and intriguing albums.
- God is in the TV zine (UK)

An interesting CD which offers the listener a range of tracks to engage with. The vocal has a haunting quality to it and the overall quality of both musicianship and production values are good. There is a definite euro vibe to the album. In terms of audience there is something for most listeners here and it should prove popular with its target audience.
(Marcus Bowman – UCA Radio) - Marcus Bowman – UCA Radio UK

It’s often been said of music, that it’s not what you actually play, but what you leave out that’s important.
I think this is true of any creative art form, but I’ve yet to hear a group demonstrate this theory quite so overtly as Belgium duo, Bix Medard in the release of their new album ‘Y-Dress?’ out this week (July 5th 2010)
‘Y-Dress’ (Why Dress?) is the second album of visual artists and musicians, Bix (vocals & flute) and Peter Clasen (bass player & monophonic synths) who joined forces early 2008 and released their first album last year.
The musical ensemble insist the album is designed to ‘reflect the contradictions and plurality of today’s society, a multicultural, contemporary and digital world’.
However for me, it’s like walking into an art gallery with all the best pieces hung next to each other on the exact same wall.
Similar to Bix Medard’s album, there really is too much going on all at the same time, to primarily concentrate on, and more importantly enjoy, the brilliance of certain key pieces.
And make no mistake, there are moments of brilliance within this album, but the duo’s inability to edit and highlight not only the album for tracks, but also those that are featured, makes it a confusing listen throughout.
From the opening track, ‘La photo en noir et blanc’ you are introduced to Bix’s distinct, sweet and breathy vocals which in isolation will have you hoping you’ve discovered the next Goldfrapp. When accompanied by Clasen, however you are instantly transported to the early 80s and in particular to the one-hit wonder, Kajagoogoo’s ‘Too Shy’.
‘Je respire’ is destined to feature in a perfume commercial, but it’s repetitive and at times irregular synthesized beats prevent it from being a must hear track you’re likely to want to add to a play-list.
Fans of la nouvelle chanson française are sure to instantly fall in love with ‘Parking 58’ and Coco Rosie-esque ‘Cest Si Bon,’ which highlight the purity of Bix's vocals while showcasing the electro ear of Clasen.
For me, ‘Arabesque’ is the most contemporary track on the album, and one I’m confident will be adopted by modern boutique bars, hotels and clubs, throughout Europe’s most fashionable cities. With hauntingly enticing vocals similar to that of the UK’s Portishead and the synthesized seduction of the award-winning French duo, Air, for me it’s easily a favourite on the album.
It’s been a while since anyone covered John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ and I’m still at a loss as to why the Belgium duo felt the need to include their version of it at the end of their latest album. Whether it be an indication of their eccentricity or merely a selfless dedication to one of their many muses, it definitely deserves a listen and is likely to spark interest & discussion wherever this album is lucky enough to be aired.
(Victoria Dillingham - Ukmusicreview)
- Victoria Dillingham - UK musicreview

Bix Medard are a Brussels based electropop duo. At times trip hop, post punk, new wave, electro, the initial feel of their album Y-Dress? is that they are dabbling in all music bases without actually grabbing any particular genre. The album is still entertaining and moves along in fine style with Bix Medard‘s very breathy euro pop, sweet soft vocal feel with the added edge of Peter Clasen on bass and monophonic synths giving a stronger rounded edge to the sound.
There are some songs that stand out in terms of cross over appeal, the opener La Photo en Noire et Blanc sounding a bit like Visage. Parking 58 and C’est Si Bon are also stand out sweet Euro pop. The version of Imagine is quite brave. It’s also a clever idea as it sounds like it could be fresh in a commercial and bring Bix Medard into the mainstream. There’s a lot of charm on Y-Dress?. Nice melodies, a few catchy europop songs, quirky French vocals and great bass playing. Stylistically it is cool and Bix could a big star. She is a painter, performance artist, poet and also a singer. It may be harsh to say this but she is perhaps a jack of all trades and a mistress of none.
With more focus and a definite musical direction, she could be a European star in the style of Alison Goldfrapp.
(The Music Critic)

- The Music Critic - UK

Whenever I am given a CD to review that has in the opening lines “influenced by the likes of Bjork, Coco Rosie and Serge Gainsbourg” I have to say I get a little excited.
Of course Coco Rosie is known for her distinctive voice that really gives her acoustic music an originally beautiful twist; Serge Gainsbourg most famous for his collaboration with Jane Birkin and their ‘Je T'aime’ track of 1969 and of course not forgetting Bjork known for her individual style of music and of course her taste in fashion. I was unsure how these could influence an artist who’s style is ‘electro/indie/alternative but I have to say it does, well as much as ‘Bix Medard’s’ music can be explained in terms of other artists, for me, she is so wholly unique.
‘Bix Medard’ is made up of Peter Clasen electronic bass playing mixed with Bix's voice and flute playing. With a unique style Bix sings in a very poetic style, almost reading her lines to the beat of the sounds around her, creating a very organic style of what I would call electro pop. Although not fully knowing what individual songs were actually about (having given up French longer ago than I can remember) I still felt that I was carried along by the album and that the stories were unfolding in front of me. The word to best sum up this album would have to be unique. Even her cover of ‘imagine’ had an eerie electronic individuality that only Bix’s smooth breathless voice could instil into her songs. I think my favourite track is 'c’est si bon', one of the more pop orientated songs on the album but with a very catchy guitar beat and some great underlying sounds, it picks you up and bounces you along on a happy wave of light electronics and Bix’s sweet as chocolate melodic voice.
If your looking for something a little different try a little bit of Bix Medard this year.
(Imogen Davies -Tasty fanzine)

- Imogen Davies -Tasty fanzine

Brussels, Belgium-based singer Bix teams with bassist and electronicist Peter Clasen for a debut album of eerie, downbeat pop. Bix Medard sings in French with fragile, breathy intonation, projecting vulnerable wonder laced with dread…she also plays flute on several tracks, mirroring the fluttery characteristics of her voice. Clasen’s elegant, understated soundbeds combine elements of post punk, ambient and electric jazz, adding subtly dissonant tunings. The woozy aura that results follows a distinctly European mode of existential coolness, in contrast to the extroversion found in American romantic pop forms. Nowhere is this more apparent than in her cover of the standard “C’est Si Bon”.
(Chicago WZRD) - Chicago WZRD

Quite enjoyable. Very unique. French, flutes, and electronic music. Who knew such a combination could be so effective. Smooth jazz and electronica fans can come together and enjoy this album. The soft, subtle French vocals, jazz flute, and organ definitely give this album a unique touch. Sounds like a Kraftwerk-based lounge might sound with less robots.
(Paul Contento - WPTS Pittsburgh)
- Paul Contento - WPTS Pittsburgh

I don't understand any of the lyrics (or titles for that matter), but this band from Brussels has a really cool electronic sound mixed with breathy female vocals. Sort of like a more pop focused Bjork, or a more adventurous Imogen Heap.
(AaronKaufmanMusic.com)
- AaronKaufmanMusic.com

This is a really cool record! I like the combination of the electro rhythms and Bix' voice. It's so intriguing, I can't tell if she's only speaking French or switching to German or even Japanese? Being from Belgium, I would assume the first two.
(Jeremy - Radio Phoenix, Arizona)
- Jeremy - Radio Phoenix, Arizona

French minimalist experimental pop sums it up well. It’s also dark in a delicious way. She has a high-pitched girly voice a little like Blonde Redhead’s Kazu Makino of Blonde Redhead, but uses it in sultry ways like Portishead’s Beth Gibbons. Flute used to very good effect. And look at how incredibly cool these two are, sitting there, just oozing hipness. And they made this music, the album you’re holding in your hand, which is actually very good.
(Alma Mahler - KZSU radio, Stanford California)
- Alma Mahler - KZSU radio, Stanford California

I was a personally little skeptical before listening to tracks from Bix Medard's self-titled debut CD. After all, Bix and bandmate Peter Clasen are both based in Brussels, Belgium at the moment and I was certain that she would be singing in a language other than English. Nevertheless, I cued up Bix's tracks in my mp3 player and got ready to take a listen, all the while thinking I was just going to have to just soldier through it--but from the first notes of "C'est Si Bon" she had me. As I listened to her sultry yet somewhat airy voice juxtaposed against groovy bass lines and trippy monophonic synths, I just couldn't help myself. Almost instantly, I began humming and bopping along with the melodies. I didn't care that she was singing in French (at least, I think it was French), to be honest, I hardly even noticed. What I did take notice of was that Bix and Peter’s music is well arranged, well played and has a resonance that transcends the language barrier. Enjoy! CC
GroundWaves Radio, groundwaves.fm - GroundWaves Radio

Bix Medard – Bix Medard (Altair Musik)

Sometimes, the darkest place we know lies deep beneath the shiny glowing surface of our perfect pop heart.

The two cover songs in this otherwise wonderfully ‘all originals’ set are a take on the fragile tragic beauty and strength of a Josephine Baker standard, and a cute mischievous capture of a song that enigma and crazy 50s kitten Eartha Kitt brought to the worlds attention.

The drama starts straight away, barely there waves of piano, bass and a skittering scary percussion slide up against the sweet breathy vocalizing and then flute, just escaping from an ancient movie, and then, the shadows take over.

And how those shadows dance.

These rhythms, these candleFlicker ghosts disturb and seduce, songs of fluid dangerous hours with a partner you are not quite sure of, but very much want to spend the evening with.

This danger is addictive.
- Nextbigthing