>> The penelopes
bio: The release of the french label Citizen gives new relevance to a sound too often neglected on the dancefloor: a music that is brutal, bright , and existential. The source of this delicate equation goes by the name of tHe pEneLOpe[s], a Franco-Finnish duo based in Paris and the authors of a decadent and theatrical electro-pop. Refusing to choose between electronic and rock, theirs is a deliberately elusive attitude, rather like that of a dandy cultivating the elegance of his aura to probe beyond the superficial coating of people and things…
With their intense and incendiary live performances tHe pEneLOpe[s], have caused a storm in Parisian arts circles and count authors like Regis Clinquart, or the designer Agnes b., among their biggest fans. Their concerts, following in the wake of Morrissey or Nick Cave, adhere to a tradition close to cabaret, to create a melodramatic, aggravated, but dance stage-setting of the human passions. Unforgettable performances that have indelibly marked many at Rex club, Dour, Culture Club, Sonar festival, Human League‘s aftershow, The Loft/Razzmatazz or South America’s festivals [ON TOUR]...
Musically, tHe pEneLOpe[s], have found the ideal range to depict their universe, mixing guitars and machines, somewhere between primitive constructivism inspired by post-punk (Fiction/Factory/Mute/Beggars Banquet/4AD nebula), synthetic disco, and German electro-tek. A mighty alchemy - fed by their common passion for compound melodies and vintage electronic instruments - with breathtaking results: a fantastic remix of LTNo (Les Tétines Noires) for Cleopatra USA; their exquisite debut Purity Ep (released on A-Traction, and immediately playlisted on the BBC in UK), and blinding contribution as the only French representatives on DJ Hell’s latest ‘International DJ Gigolo' compilation.
On “Steal This [EP]”, tHe pEneLOpe[s], revisit “Alice” a classic track from the Sisters of Mercy's new wave era, reviving an energy put to sleep for 20 years, and rediscovering its original pulsation, guitar, and guttural voice. The track they composed for Liquid Architecture, who plays out their Album (released in February 06 on Naïve) is a mechanical ballet whipped by synthetic guitars and an avalanche of snare drums and handclaps, the duo’s self-confessed péchés mignons [DISCOGRAPHY].
Simultaneously mechanical and vivid the debut album, soon released on Vitalic’s label, embodies the unique style of tHe pEneLOpe[s] with determination. With the talentful singers as guests (Samy Birnbach aka Dj Morpheus, the legendary voice of Minimal Compact and Dierdre Dubois from Ekova [B-SIDE]), they definitely decided to defend the songwriting on a dance-rock album. Because THAT is a project for dancers, composed with both guitars, bass, harmonica (and many more...) and electronic sounds. ....body, heart and soul!
