Les Zazous ‎– Singles Party (The Best Of Les Zazous, 1983-2001)****

Apparently these guys are my neighbors (sort of). They come from Katwijk-aan-zee, about 30 km from my current home. I know that not all rock bands come from big cities like New York or London, but come on - Katwijk-aan-zee? It's a no-count seaside town in West Holland. There's a sandy beach which wouldn't be bad if it led to the Mediterranean, but who the hell wants to dive in the North Sea? I looked it up in wikipedia for something interesting to write about, and what do you know? In ancient times, it used to be the end of civilization. To the South (e.g. here in Delft), The Roman Empire: aqueducts, marble bathhouses, paved roads (all leading to Rome, of course). To the North, Germanic barbarians, specifically a tribe called the Chiatti. Between them, the Old Rhine and, right where Katwijk-aan-zee now stands, a Roman Fortress called Lugdunum Batavorum. Seeing as this used to be an unhealthy swamp in Roman Times, Batavorum must have been among the worst postings for a Roman soldier - possibly right after Petibonum, the fortress closest to Asterix's village.

The name of Les Zazous comes from a French proto-beatnik/mod youth subculture, you might like to check them out here. The band had been active from 1983 to 2001, a long time. They're often mentioned as playing neo-psychedelic or garage revival music, but to me it's just timeless power pop: from The Beatles and The Who to Big Star to The Raspberries to the British C86 movement, there's a tradition of melody, catchy choruses and jangly guitars, with the occasional loud riff to keep things from getting too sugary. That said, the first 5 tracks here coming from the band's last CD @Electric Babyland (1998) maintain some of the above characteristics while ditching the 60's influences - with the exception of the harpsichord and horns of the Sgt-Peppers-influenced "Sundaymorning 6 A.M.". The rest are pretty much typical 90's: "Aphrodisiac" has a bouncy dance beat reminiscent of baggy Brit-pop bands, while "This Town" and "Everybody's Watching Me" could be by any 90's American college radio band. From the Deadline EP (1998) we get the upbeat, Supergrass-like, eponymous number, and the melodic Big Star-like "Tell Me What You Want". Until here, it's all radio-friendly indie pop, good but somewhat generic. Folky ballad "Seven Seas" from Exota (1993) has more character, with distinctive accordion, bright acoustic guitar and nostalgic lyrics. "Crying In My Sleep" is another nice folk rocker, and "The Saddest Girl In Town" a ballad with pretty piano and strings, originally also from Exota! but included here in an alternate version. If I have any problem with what I've heard so far is that it's too commercial, too easy on the ear. So why were these songs not international hits? It may have something to do with the band coming from Katwijk instead from, say, Manchester or even Athens, Georgia. The next two tracks are a bit more interesting to me: rhythm and blues-style "Chain Gang" and Kinks-like "Another Town" from their debut Les Zazous (1987). The latter got played on John Peel's radio show , which resulted in a brief appearance in the UK Indie Charts. Another song that reminded me of The Kinks is the satirical (think "Dandy") previously unreleased "Rockstar In The Supermarket", while the melodic "Tears Will Tell On You" (from Pop, 1990) and more guitar-oriented "Inside Your Mind" (Wake Up Wake Up EP, 1986) are reminiscent of California's Paisley Underground scene. There's also a lively garage rock cover of The Stones' "Play With Fire" (originally the B-Side to the Tears Will Tell On You 7' single), while the CD closes with 3 previously unreleased tracks: a jaunty take on the theme from the musical "Hair", the Who-influenced "Farewell To Arms" (both from 1997), and swing "Django In New York" referencing the original zazou idol of the 40's, Django Reinhardt, and recorded during the band's early days (1985). This CD makes for an excellent compilation of should-have-been-hits, ranging from 60's-style mod psych to indie (Brit) pop. Worth listening to in any decade.

**** for This Town, Deadline, Seven Seas, Crying In My Sleep, Chain Gang, Play With Fire, Inside Your Mind, Another Town, Django In New York

*** for Aphrodisiac, Everybody's Watching Me, Sundaymorning 6 A.M., The Saddest Girl In Town, Tears Will Tell On You, Tell Me What You Want, Rockstar In The Supermarket, Hair, A Farewell To Arms