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Berlin, Malajube and Breaking the Language Barrier

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By: Rustycat | in: General, Music |

Popkomm Berlin

Me and Charbarred just came back from Berlin while visiting one of Europe’s leading music conferences, Popkomm. We were nominated for a prize there for most innovative music start up for YouLicense. No, we didn’t win, but it was fun, we got to meet tons of interesting people, labels and musicians. An we got the chance to experience, and I say experience on purpose, Berlin for the first time and caught some amazing shows in the process. Berlin is like a huge playground for young people; the nightlife there is probably the most lively I’ve seen in the world, and I’ve been around..

On our second night we were invited to an evening hosted by the UK label City Slang home to some really awesome bands like Aracde Fire, Broken Social Scene, Menomena and many others. We got to see Stars, Architecture in Helsinki, Menomena and Caribou who were rocking the stage like it was their last day on earth. But the highlight of the evening was definitely Malajube.
For me it was the first time I ever heard these experimental indie rockin guys. Charbarred, who is actually an indie music database, immediately brought me up to speed about them and what we were in for.

It’s funny; earlier that day we spoke to a really nice guy, Robert Singerman, who represents the French Music Export office in the US. He was telling us about how he’s trying to expose French speaking bands in the US and overcome the language barrier; music is music no matter what language it’s in. And he’s absolutely right. So, anyway, as he was saying this we found ourselves at the Malajube concert, they’re from Quebec’, Canada they sing in French.

Malajube

In the beginning I thought it might be difficult to connect with the band seeing as I don’t understand what the singer is trying to say, but the language barrier broke down after seconds of hearing them do their live version of the La Monogamie. Needless to say they are my new favorite band. If you like Cursive and other alternative lo-fi indie acts, you must check them out.

La Monogamie

Here are two of my favorite songs from the album, Casse-cou and Montreal 40c, give them a few seconds to evolve, trust me you’ll love it…it’s the keyboards that really make the difference.

Casse-cou

Motreal 40c
[youtube]UHwSk8bFS4M [/youtube]

They released their latest album, Trompe L’Oeil, apparently back in 2006. I suggest you get it while it lasts.
They also have some amazing videos if you’re into that kind of stuff.


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Posted on October 3, 2007

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