Various Artists – 'Paris Calling' (Because Music) Released 23/04/07

Anglo-French relations have never been particularly fruitful – think politically, and the frequent nil-point of Eurovision’s gone by (and sadly, probably still to come). However, this could all change. Of course, Gigwise isn’t really interested in political relations, let alone Eurovision hostilities, but we do all speak the same language when it comes to one thing – music (cue the hippy ‘V’ signs). It’s with a musical curiosity, therefore, that we embrace ‘Paris Calling,’ if anything, just to see what the French are getting wasted to in the Parisian back streets.

Just in case the compilations name had flown over you like a frantically migrating bird across the channel, as Second Sexs’, ‘Lick My Boots’ gets underway, and a conglomeration of thrashing, treble-adoring guitars commence, you’ll soon get the ‘clever’ Clash reference which is in homage obviously to ‘London Calling.’ For ‘Paris Calling’ is designed to be a tourist guide to all punk-guitar things French.

With twelve tracks, each of the six bands featured get two chances to impress on the album. Although, for the cynical minded that might suggest that there aren’t enough bands to fill twelve individual tracks, as Plastiscines two impressive contributions prove, that would be a little judgemental. Both, ‘Shake (Twist Around The Fire)’ and ‘Rake,’ are powerful slabs of infective femme-punk. Then there’s, ‘Why Choose One Side’ - which is what 'Golden Touch' would have sounded like had Johnny Borrel penned the track during his more shambolic Libertines days - and The Sex Pistols sound-a-like ‘The City,’ which both come courtesy of The Parisians. It’s no surprise that the two aforementioned bands have been setting Parisian scenesters heartstrings fluttering since their conception.

With those bands aside however, there’s not much else to be impressed with. Brooklyn’s, ‘Clandestine’ is catchy but weak in comparison to their more established, more famous competitors. Similarly, ‘Like I’m A Man,’ (Les Shades) with its lyrics, “Make me feel like I’m a man,” even manages to make The Kooks sound avant-garde (Eddies Gun anyone?).

If you can look past the fact that the sounds that Paris are calling us with are the sounds that we’ve all heard quite a lot of since 2001, and for those old enough to remember, on and off for the last thirty-something years, then this is an alternative compilation you’ll, in parts, enjoy listening to. If not, wait a few years for, ‘Myths Of The Parisian Future: New Rave Volume 01.’