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| INDEPENDENT CLAUSES Mark Pranger 6/2007 Miou Miou Lala Grande Finale  Piper Records Best Element: Language barrier-breaking music Sometimes it is extremely soothing to hear music in another language, largely because the lyrics become just another appendage of the melody, adding an additional layer to the music. International music can allow your ears a proper break from your usual spoken language. Unfortunately, if you actually have to give more than a cursory listen to the album (let's say, writing a review), then this barrier poses a significant problem. I must concede that I only took two years of French in high school, and they do me almost no good after listening to Miou Miou's debut album, Lala Grande Finale . But this is all relative, of course. Miou Miou is a Czech band originating out of East Bohemia. All of their songs are done in playful and catchy French. Almost all of Lala Grande Finale consists of gay, lighthearted girlish vocals that are perfectly mirrored in the album's instrumentation and musicianship. Miou Miou begins “A l´été de la Saint-Martin ´68" with a simple guitar melody and then quickly moves into some French lyrics that I will probably never understand, followed by a nice addition of handclaps, harmonica and harp. “Dans le miroir de tes yeux” uses the same basic formula, but instead substitutes the harp for a violin and the handclaps for a tambourine. Miou Miou moves on to bigger and better things as the album progresses. “Sublime” proves itself to be, well, sublime, to say the least. As one of the most lyrical tracks on the record, it shows itself to be one of the best. Karolina Dytrtova's voice is amazing, not only on “Sublime,” but on every track, giving a smoothness without ever wavering. Perhaps one of the best ways I can describe Miou Miou's sound is to mention another band, however frowned upon name-dropping may be. Think of Asobi Seksu's Citrus without all the shoegaze; the sprightly feel and the nonsensical lyrics make them seem like Miou Miou's twin, only in Japanese and English. “Summe Volume” is another tightly orchestrated track similar in grandiosity to “Sublime.” Whether or not you can actually understand French, this album is still fun and entertaining. Also, even though it may be highly cliché, music really does cross all borders, and Lala Grande Finale is an excellent example. Language couldn't matter less; what is important is how everything is framed within the music. :::::::::::::::::::: |
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