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Malajube
I have no idea what Malajube are saying in their French Canadian power pop songs, having never been to France, never taken French in high school, and knowing nothing other than what catchphrases the television has taught me. So instead, I give up, give into the music. It's imaginative indie-rock meets fresh-faced French pop to a magnificent result.
Named after an amphibian disease, Malajube rejects indie-rock stereotypes. Despite being "one of those Montreal" bands (see also: The Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene) the band was not well known in the United States until recently. It's hard to blame the language barrier when it's plainly obvious the quality of the songwriting and Malajube's passion in playing music. They're at their best when the songs ride an intoxicating rollercoast of highs and lows -- contrasting restrained, quiet guitar strumming with explosive, giddy, spastic choruses, like in "La Monogamie."
On "Montreal -40C," Malajube constructs a warm mixture of "ba ba ba"s, lighthearted synths and infectious melodies. Malajube take a myriad of influences and create a quirky mix that reminds me of The Beatles, The Flaming Lips, or the Super Furry Animals at times. The fact that they sing all their lyrics in French (their banter at a New York City show last month was spoken entirely in painstakingly broken English) only adds to the mystery of Malajube for me.
Malajube - Montreal -40C
Malajube - La Monogamie
Malajube's official site. Buy Trompe l'Oeil from Amazon or iTunes.
Posted by Queen of the Front Row at 03.01.07 at 6:45 PM
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