French Boutik

"....Their new double 7” single “Ici Paris” certainly blends all those influences into another excellent mod Anglo-French platter. The title track shows a soulful side hinting of French sixties girl pop with a smidgen of Pulp’s “Razzmatazz”. “Pousse au Crime” is a more darker proposition with a film-noir style backing tied to a strong chorus..." - Strange Brew (UK)

"....confronting this globalized world with irony, criticism and elegance." - Real Mod World (Spain)

"Ici Paris is an more assured and confident take on the mix of lounge, beat and mod-ish sounds that made the band's first EP so welcome and refreshing.... The five piece group, whose musical taste is as sharp as their clothes and haircuts, personify retro cool while documenting the trials and tribulations of la vie moderne." - Harmonic Distortion (UK)

"Ici Paris is an more assured and confident take on the mix of lounge, beat and mod-ish sounds that made the band's first EP so welcome and refreshing.... The five piece group, whose musical taste is as sharp as their clothes and haircuts, personify retro cool while documenting the trials and tribulations of la vie moderne." - Harmonic Distortion (UK)

This page's second encouter with les 'ipsters Français is a double 7" package; very nice indeed. Though they look all modded up, there's a mixture of influences here. Singer Gabriela Giacoman, pursued by shadows, deperately hurtles through alleyways on Pousse au Crime, the ghost of John Barry lurking in the dark; Kinky Allumette sounds like classic Attractions sans Spiky Elvis. But their precursors ain't all ancient Britons; you'll hear yé-yé too, and there's something modern and knowing here. It could do with more thump in the mix, but it's honest, there's no hint of overproduction in this alluring release. - Record Collector (UK)

Billed as La nouvelle pop moderniste; this tidy EP from a Parisian quintet is plainly produced but not without allure, with interesting melodies and appealing male-female vocals. There's a faint psych edge to it all, Farfisa- styled organ, a refusal to follow obvious chord sequences, but there's no pretentiousness or mad freakouts. French Boutik do not appear to endorse such things, preferring subtlety and a lively, direct sound -- witness the track Le Clope.

The final song, New Bossa, which doesn't have a bossa nova beat, is sung in English -- and presumably that's a clue to non-Francophones like me that they generally write songs about characters rather than events.

The title of the EP may mean ordinary cats, but this is not an everyday release. Worth investigating at the Facebook site that bears the name frenchboutik. - Record Collector

"...Four tracks on a double 7” vinyl format and download sees our favourite Parisian modernistas continuing where they left off with their wonderful blend of anglo/french mod pop which really is a tonic in theses days of sterile, processed nonsense that dominates the mainstream music business. This is fresh, exciting, uplifting and fun..." - New Untouchables (UK)

"It's an in-joke in the ranks of French Boutik that guitarist Serge introduces the most obscure guitar chords to their songs, which often leave the rest of the band baffled, but we the listeners can be thankful for his Gainsbourg-like touch which permatates this fabulous 4 track release...." - ModGeneration (UK)

"The new Ici Paris double 45 should bump up the band’s reputation even further...The bottom line is that French Boutik knock out infuriatingly catchy modern-day grooves with a hint of the past, rather than drowning in it....If you love French pop, Hammond-driven beats or plain old catchy tunes, this is for you." - ModCulture (UK)

The debut EP from French-American mod-poppers comes in a striking beautiful sleeve. The simple ideas are often the best.

The title track translates as 'The Alley Cats' but there's nothing dirty and common about this blast of hyper-melodic sunshine Hammond Ye-Ye pop. Vocalist Gabriela sounds as cool as you like. 'La Vedette' ('The Star') is a bittersweet sounding romp about war, with a glam rock/Kinks guitar stomp driving the beat, only to be cut-up by moody interludes à la Blur. I bet it sounds excellent live in concert.

On the flipside 'Le Clope' ('Cigarette', well actually 'Gasper') is a funny story of smoking where you should not, set to plentiful 'Ba Ba Ba's and sat on a bedrock of Ian McLagan/Booker T-styled organ. It's late-60s, hippy Brian Auger Trinity fare you may say. It's pure happy music for the uncynical amongst you too. Finally the one English sung tune, 'New Bossa', is ironically the least interesting number, sounding a bit forced and slight, in spite of some lovely harmonising.

This Parisian quintet are definitely ones to watch. A full album by them would no doubt be great...but for now, buy this!
- Shindig (UK)

....Which brings us nicely to French Boutik, a five piece beat group from Paris who describe themselbes as "pop moderniste". They've just released their debut EP containing four tracks which ably capture their sound -- a pleasing mix of mid 60s retro-isms fused with indie-pop girl charm, with three of the four tracks sung in French. Lead track "Les Chats de Gouttiere" is a tale of alley cats apparently (thanks Google translate). It's a three minute mini pop opera, complete with sophisticated melody and all the band's strengths condensed into one song. Interestingly gouttière also translates as groove as well as gutter which gives a little clue as to how it sounds.

Side one continues with "La Vedette" a male lead vocal for this one, with a finger snap inducing rhythm and mmelody reminiscent of prime-era Kinks. A quick flip over to side two gives us "Le Clope" (that's a smoke, cig or fag in British parlance)). It's Ye-Ye for grown-ups, with frantic beats and Townsend guitar nicely offset by the sweet vocal of singer Gabriela Giacoman.... - SKRBBLR (UK)

When you think of French music, and specifically French mod music, Jacques Dutronc is the first name to spring to mind. In more general terms, Piaf, Hardy, Greco, Gainsbourg, and Distel will be familiar to Sixties pop enthusiasts. So with that heritage, French Boutik unleash this four-track EP that acknowledges the past without being overly pastiche. It is all orginal material and it is very good. The French do have a unique musical style. There are songs that you know could only have come from France and so it is with this disc. "La Vedette" is a slice of dreamy beat with male lead vocals, while "Le Clope" hands over to the ladies and sees a faster pace with a hint of Bardot-esque charm about it. "Les Chats de Gouttiere" is the type of quality beat that Blondie would have covered in their heyday. "New Bossa" is the only song in English and swings along nicely as a change of pace to the other tracks. This EP is a refreshing blast from across the English Channel. They also look cool. If you caught them on their recent visit to London, You'll know what a good band they are. - The New Untouchables (UK)

"There are touches of classic Motown, Burt Bacharach and Serge Gainsbourg and of course fans of those great Sixties Yé-yé records by artists such as Clothilde, Annie Philippe and Sylvie Vartan will find much to admire. But like the playful Japanese outfit Pizzicato 5, they bring all these influences up to date perfectly." - Retroman (UK)

The moment I saw the cover artwork for this, French Boutik’s debut single, I knew I would love it. From the retro lettering to the shadowy photographs of the band, I knew that I was about to listen to something cool. Then, using my trusty schoolboy French, I translated 'Les Chats de Goutierre' to find that it means the Swinging Cats. Coolness, on a whole new level…

Opening track, 'Les Chats de Goutierre', is a bright and breezy guitar driven little pop number, fairly bursting with Gallic cool. With an entrancing keyboard, a kicking beat a gorgeous vocal by lead singer Gabriela, the song is energetic, fresh and supremely melodic.

'La Vedette' continues in a similar vein, with a poppy sound reminiscent in places of The Rembrandts. Like its predecessor, the song is held together by a superb beat, and wings and struts in just the right way.

Turning over to side B, 'Le Clope' is by far the coolest track on the single. Its vocal harmonies and fantastic keyboard line set it above the other three tracks – you can almost smell the Ricard and Gitanes wafting out of the stereo.

Final track, 'The New Bossa', finds Gabriela singing in English in a superbly un-accented voice. The clarity of Gabriela’s voice works superbly within the framework of the band’s sound, and brought to mind Stuart Murdoch’s side-project God Help the Girl.

For a four track set, this little single is a cracker. Fresh, punchy and, above all, chic, never has French pop sounded quite so good. This single is to French pop what 'A Bout de Souffle' was to French cinema. Quite simply, it’s stunning.
- indiemusic.co.uk