Fous De La Mer

Artist: Fous De La Mer
P: 2013
What if one combines French romance with the Ibiza’s lifestyle? The result is just as charming as the exceptional blend that we know ‘Fous De La Mer’ for. Since 2004, the likeable and highly creative trio has been releasing albums on their homebase Elektrolux. Now they return with their already fifth album on Elux Records. Everything still the same? Certainly not: ‘Fous De La Mer’ are bound to surprise again.
With their new album ‘Cinq’ they once more revive French Chansons with the facets of chill-out, dub, gentle breakbeats, relaxed trance passages and small excursions into more exotic areas. Openness to the world is the sound of ‘Cinq’ written in the sand. Mediterranean piano ballads (‘Luz’, ‘Amélie Regardant l'Océan’) coexist naturally alongside pop summer songs (‘Soledad’, ‘Within The Stars’) and experimental Balearic instrumental hymns (‘Fish in The Vegan World’ and the wonderful ‘Pink Flamingos’). If you look at the stunning vocals of Argentine singer Sol Ruiz de Galarreta it is also hardly surprising that feelings of J-Pop (‘Soledad’) are being recalled.
This impression is intensified especially by contributions of guest vocalists Betty Steeles, who already carved out real fame for herself in London’s world-class music scene by her collaborations including a couple of indie-hits and who delivers one of the strongest tracks with her brilliant song ‘I’m Not Hollow’, as well as the contribution by Jean-Charles’ London based son, who is playing there with an underground indie outfit and can be heard on the dreamy pop song ‘Where You Belong’.
The lyrics on ‘Cinq’ move just as playful through the band’s various places of origin as the musical style. Whether Spanish, French or English, for ‘Fous De La Mer’ no limits seem to exist. Acoustic instruments blend with handpicked electronic sounds to a sound full of depth and longing. And that is why the pieces work as well in the living room, as they do with a cocktail under the Ibizan sun.
This way, ‘Fous De La Mer’ always manage to generate new hubs by unexpected collaborations with friends and artists from different genres, but at the end still deliver a surprising, but still typical ‘Fous De La Mer’ song.

Artist: Fous De La Mer
P: 2008
Elektrolux e10100100cd
Bossa Nova is in the air. It was not left to chance that 'Ipanema', the third Fous de la Mer album, was published exactly 50 years after 'Chega de Saudade', the first Bossa Nova album by Gilberto. The title 'Ipanema' also clearly defines the stylistic frame and winkingly refers to the most famous hit by Gilberto ('The Girl from Ipanema'). Last but not least, the musical development towards traditional Latin-American music already became evident on the two previous Fous de la Mer albums ('Stars & Fishes' 2004, 'Ultramar' 2006) and the accordant live performances by Jean-Charles Vandermynsbrugge, Marko Bussian and Sol Ruiz de Galarreta. 'Without Bossa Nova and its groundbreaking alliance of Brazilian Samba und Cool Jazz , the development of modern lounge music would not have been impossible. During our live gigs, we discovered how close the spirit of our tracks is to classic Bossa Nova. But we also found out quickly that our classics such as 'Never Stop Loving' or 'Asi Vas' also work perfectly as modernised Bossa Nova tracks.' However, first things first: for more than five years, long-term producer and sound designer Marko Bussian (aka La.Mia.Bocca, Glissando Bros.), Jean-Charles Vandermynsbrugge of Southern France and the Argentina-born Sol Ruiz de Galaretta have been producing deeply touching sound escapisms about a day at the sea. By songs like 'Never Stop Loving', 'Ultramar' or 'Watersong', the three musicians who are now living on Ibiza paved the way towards a both modern and traditional understanding of a melancholic, elegant and sensitive variety of, well, pop music like hardly another contemporary ambient project. Last but not least, the step towards Bossa Nova is absolutely self-evident because of Sols unique vocals. 'Sol just has the perfect voice for Bossa Nova which is almost as soft, easy and soulful as the voice of famous Bebel Gilberto. Thus, we last year decided to just go into the studio to do some live recordings of our songs in traditional cast with vocals, guitar, piano, contrabass and percussions. This was the beginning of our acoustic journey finally leading directly to our new album after the 'Change The World'-Digital-EP.'
However, 'Ipanema' does not only feature known Fous de la Mer classics such as 'Conmigo', 'Never Stop Loving', 'Asi Vas', 'Ultramar' or 'Tu mirada' in a new but nevertheless strangely familiar Bossa Nova sound. 'Bossaliday' is an intensive song about the coming and going of friendship, but also about love. These are typical Bossa Nova topics recurring on deep Fous de la Mer interpretations of the Bossa classic 'Triste' by Antonio Carlos Jobim and the less known, longingly Brazilian ballad 'Coco Verde' by Teca Calazans und Ricardo Villa. In 'Bigger Love', the easy-going Mediterranean pop understanding of Fous de La Mer is continued. The title which stylistically reminds you of Fleetwood Mac (which had numerous hits in the 70ies and 80ies), also is like an atmospheric trip along the Côte d'Azur on its winding roads to Cannes or Saint Tropez. And even the interpretation of Pizzicato Five's 'The Night is still young' fits perfectly into the soundscape, in spite of or just because of the surprising Japanese vocals by Sol. 'It is amazing how alike Spanish and Japanese can be. And as Sol has always liked to perform the track live, this groovy version added perfectly to the album.' The deeply sensual summer romance of Bossa Nova is simply international.

Artist: Fous De La Mer
P: 2011
Elektrolux
Their new album, Reggatta De Bleu, whose name took inspiration from the 80’s Police album ‘Reggatta De Blanc’, includes a homage to the french band Air, with a wonderful adaption of their late 90’s hit ‘All I Need’. Besides, there are some stunning songs such as Time To Wake Up, Say It, Balanceando Mis Caderas, All We Need Is Love, No Fun Without You and brilliant instrumental tracks such as My Rich Girl, A.n.o.t.h.e.r. L.o.v.e. S.o.n.g., All Around The World, Reggatta De Bleu, Tu Es Mon Ange and Nuages that could be heard on the most sublime beaches of the world and evoke dreamy landscapes soaked in the soothing light of the setting sun.

Artist: Fous De La Mer
P: 2006
Elektrolux e10010000cd
‚The sea is life, development and motion. To us, the sea is just another world which has been existing much longer than we do, in whose secrets, beauty and energy we always love to get lost.’ (Sol Ruiz de Galarretta, 2006) A declaration of love to life, love, and, last but not least, the sea. By this mixture, the house producer Marko Bussian (Glissando Bros.), Jean-Charles Vandermynsbrugge from Southern France and Argentina-born Sol Ruiz De Galaretta have created one of the most beautiful ambient pop summer hymns of musical history by their debut EP ‚Never Stop Loving’ three yers ago. Two years after the release of the ‚Stars & Fishes’ album, the Ibiza-based musicians now are diving into their deeply touching escapisms about a day at the sea again. And the musical horizon on ‚Ultramar’ has significantly broadened.
‚On »Ultramar«, you can see the maturing process towards a much more individual sound, which, in contrast to many chillout productions, allows much more experiments towards traditional songwriting and intensive sound athmospheres. However, the warm basic mood which actually represents the specific sound of Fous de la Mer remained.’
Jean-Charles Vandermynsbrugge: ‚By »Stars and Fishes«, we had transferred our personal experinces into a common music work. The result was an album full of surprises, inspired by the island and our first joint adventures. In the course of producing »Ultramar«, we have grown and now are able to express our feelings and ideas in a joint, familiar and intuitive way - in word and sound.’ The ‚Ultramar’ listener is overwhelmed by music of brilliant beauty which just needs to go outside - to the sun, moon, wind, rain and, of course, the beach (‚Clairs De Lune’, ‚Luces’, ‚Esse Sonho’). Finally, the outstanding vocals by Sol (‚Ultramar’, ‚Ocean 22°E’, ‚Asi Vas’) and Clair Dietrich (‚All These Years’) once again are conjuring sensual melancholic hymns to love which are able to tear apart one´s heart but can also put it together again. Maybe such an album can only be made with a far view, starry nights and the presence of the sea, who knows? ‚As a child, you think that the sea is neverending, at least in your fantasy. But shoudn´t we preserve a little of this childlike naivety for our life?’

Here the last copy!

Artist: Various Artists
P: 2010
Elux006CD
As most people already thought electronica and chill out have been for ever spoiled and degraded to cheap sell out labels by those countless and tasteless lounge and Ibiza compilations, a CD came flying in, ready to save us from this jazzyloungychill-mess of the last years and re-new our perspective on this genre.
This creation is entitled 2000 and Space and is nothing less than the latest project of Alex Azary and his from elektrolux to elux records re-labelled imprint, which has been responsible for various seminal projects and releases since beginning of the nineties.
Especially with the euro wide broadcasted TV nightshow Space Night on Bavarian stations br and br-alpha, Alex Azary significantly contributed to establishing electronic sounds and music in German TV, film and other massmedia, even making it into feuilettons of prestigious German papers ‚Die Zeit’ and ‚F.A.Z.’.
That was 1996 up to 2001. The last Space Night compilation Alex Azary compiled was Vol. 9. following attempts to keep the series going and benefit from the cult status of the series, can be described best as "me too". This in mind, it doesn't come as a surprise to see the shows for which the music has been selected by Alex Azary still on air every night, after more than ten years...
Now Alex Azary and elux records present their 2k version of this format in full HD and with fresh new tracks, entitled ‚2000 and Space’. Accompagning the upcoming TV Pilot (...on Blu-ray soon!) elux records presents ‚2000 and Space – The mission continues. Vol. 1’, a simply remarkable Double CD Compilation, assembling the most sought after and talented electronic artists and producers of now.
No doubt, with acts and artists like Aural Float, Dan Curtin, Daniel Stefanik, Fous De La Mer, Gabriel Le Mar, Gui Boratto, Jonson, Lawrence, Luna City Express, Lusine, Quantum Leap, Ripperton, Solee, Subsonic Park, Sven Weisemann and others, this compilation by elux records sets the benchmark in electronica and chill out for 2010.

Artist: Various Artists
P: 2005
Elektrolux e10001000cd
How would you like to celebrate a special birthday? Would you prefer to wallow in sweet memories or would you prefer to look out for new future adventures ? Elektrolux seems to choose the second and, for their 10th Anniversary, releases a double CD which contains more than 20 previously unreleased tracks by some of the most renowned contemporary electronic listening producers (such as Aural Float, Fresh Moods, The Sushi Club, Gabriel Le Mar, Fous De La Mer, Ruxpin, Fortunato & Montresor and many more) and on top represents a comprehensive anthology with all known electronic listening styles 2005. Carefree summer excursions into the history of synthesizers (Groovecatcher 'The Electronic Kick'), slowmotion vocoder with mediteranean jazz (Guardner 'Everybody Needs'), tragic- melancolic dub- organs (Subtonal 'Back Home'), enchanting ambienttrance strings (Aural Float 'Still Here – Instrumental'), soulhouse hymns with analyzer crooning (Jean F. Cochois 'Electronique Love – Naoki Kenji Remix') or highly dramatic electro trance (Ruxpin 'Kiteboarding in the summer – Sniper Mode Remix'), everything’s possible. The Elektrolux Decade Compilation presents the perfect symmetry between harmonic high class electronic listening and a relaxed and modern understanding of dance-pop.

Artist: Various Artists
P: 2003
Elektrolux e1111100cd
This really sets the mood for individuals wanting to take that chill-time with that special someone. Be it downtime with your companion, or even a simple get togther with family and loved ones. This CD is simply that versatile.

Artist: Various Artists
P: 2005
Elektrolux e10001001cd
"Can Chillout and Pop go together? Electronic music has gone through a remarkable change during the last years by tracks having become less anonymous and more recognizable, especially with regard to song-like structures. Therefore, it was only logical that Elektrolux gave an impressing proof of the consensus of Ambient and Pop by the first issue of the compilation series The Future Is My Melody"" about two years ago. The aim was to set a new benchmark especially on the international market (e.g. Major licensings to Columbia for the US and Canada and to Universal for France). As a logical consequence, this success story is continued congenially in the anniversary year 2005. Twelve tracks of the more recent label history and two tracks which have not been released yet form an Ambient Pop Compilation which is already making us dream of next summer.
Marko Bussian, Jean-Charles Vandermynsbrugge and the Argentina-born Sol Ruiz de Galarreta are meeting for a sensual kiss on the beach of Ibiza (Fous de la Mer ""Conmigo""). The latest label act Groovecatcher is bewitched by the cathartic power of rain expressed in a deeply melancholic dub (""After The Rain""). The label founders Alex Azary and Pascal FEOS give an exclusive outlook to the third Aural Float by blending smooth but funky chilled Elektro breaks with vocals by Kim Sanders in a track akin to Prince productions (""Him And Her - Chris Wood Re-Edit"").
""The Future Is My Melody Vol. 2"", like part one, of course features tracks by Naoki Kenji, The Sushi Club, Jean F. Cochois, Fresh Moods and PFL feat. Julia Messenger. Thus, the future of the aesthetic power of melodies could not be brighter.