Montpellier, France
So last week I was stuck on a cruise ship on the Mediterranean. Don't get me wrong, I had a good time, it was just not all the time. Yes, there were a few moments where I was bored out of my mind. Traveling all day and night just to get to a port and then staying at that port for a few hours then leaving again to do it all again - THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH BRIDGE ONE MAN CAN PLAY WITH OLD PEOPLE. My saviour? Euro television. 25 channels and only one in English (BBC World - I am like sooo well educated on world affairs right now).

Flicking through all the tits and arse and dirty euro sanchez moustaches I happened to come across a French acoustic music show. At first I was a little weirded out by the guy playing the timpanis and the water bowl - I'm serial. He was splashing water in a bowl to make swimming noises. Once I accepted the strangeness of the French I was immediately drawn to the beautiful music that was played. A haunting female voice, creepy strings complimented with a dreamlike percussion section. It was peaceful yet powerful at the same time. The artist? Emilie Simon and she is amazing. I'm sitting here listening to her latest album Vegetal and although there are quite a few almost unlistenable songs here, the majority of this album is damn excellent. She seamlessly switches between English and French (oh I looove that accent) just as well she switches between the styles of music played. From folk to pop to classical music - she has many varied influences and reminds me of Bjork. Don't let that deter you! (99.9% of people loath Bjork - 0.1% worship her*) She is worthy of sitting in your music collection. Here's a couple of tracks off Vegetal.

Emilie Simon - Never Fall In Love
Emilie Simon - Fleur de saison

Emilie Simon MySpace

Hey and I also just tracked down a video from that show - Hey, moron! Hey! Moron! Duh! L-L-Look at me. I'm th-th-the waterboy. Duh! I got a wooden spoon! Duh!

Now time listen to some Nashville Pussy before I turn all 'girlie' on you....

*The Baron's Bureau of Statistics 2006