Acid WashedPause Daft Punk this season and go for French duo Acid Washed. You won't regret it.
Remember back in the 1980's when music seemed to always celebrate freedom of expression? "Second best is never enough. You'll do much better baby on your own," Madonna sang to us while wearing a boxy Jean Paul Gaultier pinstripe suit. Fast-forward to today, and music seems to be re-imagining that carefree moment. Enter the imperious and glamorous French duo Acid Washed.
What's fresh about Acid Washed is how the duo blends unbounded confidence with a frisky synth-pop edge: It's a kind of tweaked '80s/millennial sound met with a euphoric futurism. The group's made up of Parisians Richard d'Alpert and Andrew Claristidge, who seem to balance each other -- Andrew is the more optimistic of the two, and Richard appears drenched in a dark -- and somewhat erotic -- creativity. The duo refers to themselves as "people of tributes" with their musical lineage paying homage to cities around the world. Their first album honored the city of Detroit, with tracks like "General Motors," "Detroit," and "Snake," and their second, the city of Chicago. Their latest album, "House of Melancholy," is more stylized and refers back to iconic '80s moments (their "Fire N' Rain" music video brilliantly recreates coming-of-age favorite, The Breakfast Club). I caught up with these chic, French music manipulators to talk about their new album, inspiration, and Miley Cyrus.
What did you feel inspired you whilst you were creating your latest album?
RD: Things that struck me on tour, while we were already composing our second opus: the 19th century Western Europe industrial landscapes, Eastern Europe cities, USSR ghost towns, and the sea in the haven of Hamburg. I don't know why but I was constantly thinking about the waves in the harbor of Hamburg. And empty clubs after they close forever.
How would you describe your sound?
RD: Melancholic. Definitely melancholic.
How has your music changed from 2009?
AC: I don't think our music matured over time because if music matures it becomes lame. Our music instead became more personal and unique.
RD: We changed. And so did the music. But always in the same direction -- the older you get, the better you know yourself, and so does the music we make.
"Fire N' Rain" video
For your video "Fire N' Rain" you did a tribute to the cult teen movie The Breakfast Club. What inspired that idea?
RD: We are "people of tributes" and I guess it's only natural for us to pay a tribute to one of the most iconic movies of the 80's, when we were kids and when house music was rising.
Do you feel like your music encourages fans to get trippy?
RD: If once in my lifetime, two teenagers choose our music to roll a huge joint and then to make love for the first time together, I'll die a happy man. So please, let me know.
Retro or future?
AC: FUTURE with a strong knowledge of the past.
What do you feel is the next step for your music?
AC: We are working with great musicians from Mexico, Grenoble, Paris, Saint-Brieuc... We are currently recording "dance tracks" -- our music will still be epic, maybe even more than epic!
What did you do before making music?
AC: I was a graphic designer and an antiques retailer and Richard was a radio journalist, working as a reporter for the public radio station -- the French BBC, if you'd like.
What kind of music do you like to listen to?
RD: Classical and contemporary music only. I never listen to anything else. There's no time for the rest -- it's less interesting -- so I'd rather stay focused on what really matters. Some soundtracks deserve a listen as well. For instance, I recently discovered [film composer] John Ottman.
Miley Cyrus or Madonna?
AC: Well I find Miley Cyrus and Madonna too vulgar and too obvious. I prefer Gwen Stefani.
RD: Madonna is one of the most fascinating woman of the 20th century. You can't even compare.
What is something no one knows about you?
AC: That I'm currently wearing pink & blue socks with a donut on them.
RD: I feel great joy reading Hassidic tales.
Photo by Marco Dos Santos