Au Revoir Simone - The Bird Of MusicA few weeks ago, I went to a book reading at Barnes & Noble in Union Square featuring both David Lynch and Brooklyn-based trio Au Revoir Simone. Not terribly familiar with the band, I simply assumed their appearance would be greatly overshadowed by the presence of the genius filmmaker. As the event started, the moderator introduced the artists, and the band started the program by playing a song from their first album.
Amazingly, the large packed room of about 900 people fell absolutely quiet as Au Revoir Simone played their brand of stark and atmospheric music. The song "Through The Backyards" bounced off the walls of the giant bookstore and literally held everyone motionless for the three minutes or so it lasted. In the hundreds of shows I've seen over the years, I've never seen a band captivate and win over an audience so instantly...especially in seen-it-all NYC.
Lynch was then introduced and his lengthy resume listed, and in his own otherworldly manner pronounced, "I really like Au Revoir Simone".
That simple statement pretty much sums up my feeling for them and their new album, The Bird Of Music. I'm not sure what about this disc appeals to me most...is it the lo-fi moodiness? The dance-pop beats? The girl-group meets first-album Depeche Mode grooves? The If-Ben-Gibbard-was-even-more-girly-he'd-have-written-this-song feel of "Sad Songs"?I like it probably for the same reason Lynch likes Au Revoir Simone's music...it's swirly, otherworldly, and full of great lyrics sung by girls who look like they'd fit right into the storyline of one of his movies.
The album is out now digitally (itunes emusic) and will be released soon in CD form on the girls' own Our Secret Record Company label.
Here's a podcast of that David Lynch/Au Revoir Simone event from Barnes & Noble.
Read ARS's diary of their recent tour of Japan at Gothamist.
Watch the video for "Fallen Snow" here.
Au Revoir Simone - "Through The Backyards" mp3
Au Revoir Simone - "Fallen Snow (Teenagers Remix)" mp3
Au Revoir Simone tourdates:
w/ UNDER BYEN and FRIDA HYVONEN
Mar 18 - Los Angeles, CA @ Knitting Factory
Mar 19 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music
Mar 20 - Portland, OR @ Holocene (no Under
Byen)
Mar 21 - Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
w/ PETER, BJORN AND JOHN
Apr 30 - Washington DC @ 9:30 Club
May 1 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall
May 2 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall
May 3 - Philadelphia, PA @ Theater of LivingArts
May 4 - Boston, MA @ Paradise
May 5 - Montreal, QB @ Theatre National
May 6 - Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
May 7 - Columbus, OH @ Wexner Center
May 8 - Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
May 9 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
w/ VOXTROT
May 25 - Austin, TX @ Emos
May 27 - Phoenix, AZ @ Anderson's Fifth Estate
May 29 - Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey
May 30 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
June 1 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
June 2 - Seattle, WA @ Crocodile
June 5 - Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock
June 6 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Intersection
June 7 - Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
June 8 - Toronto, ON @ Sneaky Dees
June 9 - Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa
June 10 - Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place
June 11 - Cleveland, OH @ Beachland
June 12 - Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
June 13 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat
June 14 - Boston, MA @ Middle East
June 15 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall
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