The irresistible Feist on The Black Sessions, Paris 2004
If I had to choose between living in Italy and living in France, I’d always said Italy for sure (you know, just in case someone ever asked me, I needed to be prepared). But then you look at something like The Black Sessions (broadcast on Radio France) and it is *almost* enough to change your mind.
A play on the name of the host, Bernard Lenoir (get it? Le noir?), The Black Sessions have brought hundreds of great musicians from all over into Studio 105 in Paris to lay down lovely sets in front of a live audience. It’s kind of like their answer to KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic, except sometimes longer (up to an hour), and minus Nic Harcourt’s charmingly accented questions. The sessions are often released in limited-edition CDs (promos, included with magazine, etc) so these excellent quality sets have their way of seeping out to the fans worldwide.
[Previously on Fuel: Eels, Black Session 2000]
On March 3, 2004 the irresistably lovely Ms. Leslie Feist stopped by The Black Sessions and spent 45 minutes charming the crowd with her fantastic vocal styling and sexy, intelligent, refreshing songs. The Kinks cover is absolutely ace.
01. Gatekeeper
02. Leisure Suite
03. Mushaboom
04. One Evening
05. Lover’s Spit (Broken Social Scene cover)
06. Let It Die
07. When I Was A Young Girl
08. Lonely Lonely
09. Fool Proof (Ron Sexsmith cover)
10. That Girl (Kinks cover)
11. Intuition
12. Now At Last
If you’ve never listened much to Feist before, this set is a superb live introduction. Most of these tracks are on her 2004 solo debut CD Let It Die, and this year she released the Open Season disc of remixes (both on Arts & Crafts). I read this charming quote from Feist about the remix album:
“At first I didn’t really understand what remixes were. If I squinted into the air I knew I could hear old songs with added beats piping out of radios, but I didn’t know why or how that happened . . . It was so bizarre and exciting to hear a song that we had so carefully dressed, be undressed and re-addressed, and put into clothes it would have never thought to wear on its own.”
Check out songs from & commentary about her Open Season disc here.
And rumor has it that Feist’s new album is due in January. Hurrah! Feist makes my short list of female musicians that I would like to somehow inhabit for a kickass week or two, just to see how it feels to be that rad.
Name: Heather Browne
Me and my iPod say thank you H
Matt — September 12, 2006 @ 1:38 pm
gorgeous
OfJoseph — September 12, 2006 @ 1:40 pm
i love this session! its interesting to hear all the different versions of lover’s spit. i think this is the 3rd different version i have heard with feist on vocals and two or 3 with kevin on vocals. each time it has a totally different vibe but is still sexy as all get out.
Don't Need Anything — September 12, 2006 @ 2:08 pm
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh can’t wait to check this out. I’ll have to send you her full first album (since it’s out of print) If you don’t get it in a couple of days remind me. Thanks
Mike — September 12, 2006 @ 2:24 pm
thank you!! kudos to you for making such fantastic music available! if you ever come to italy i’ll be your guide!
stargazer — September 12, 2006 @ 3:32 pm
excellent! I’d only ever heard the version of Gatekeeper from this session. sooo glad to have the set. thanks!
bjr — September 12, 2006 @ 3:34 pm
thank you so much. the world needs more feist and bss.
the zero effect — September 12, 2006 @ 4:11 pm
I had the chance to see Feist at this year’s Sounds Eclectic Evening, and though I liked her music, i never expected her to be such a good live musician! If you have a chance to see her, go!
Anonymous — September 13, 2006 @ 12:28 am
haha. this woman is hot.
u write beautifully. keep writing!
anyway, i’m a fan of “i am fuel, you are friends” and recently decided to start my own mp3 blog. i linked u.
my mp3 blog is at http://songsandcigarettes.blogspot.com/
R — September 13, 2006 @ 9:32 am
Hello Heather,
Just a few precisions: Bernard Lenoir is his real name and, instead of Morning Becomes Eclectic, it’s more a kind of John Peel radio show. Besides, playlists are fabulous. To finish, Black Sessions (with audience) and White Sessions (without public) are each time wonderful. Look at the archives, choose a year and click ‘ok’: it’s impressive, they’re all there !
Take care.
scleem — September 13, 2006 @ 1:51 pm
Thanks . . . .
jennings — September 16, 2006 @ 7:02 pm
omg thanks loads!
i cant spend a day without playine me some Feist =)
i think ill love these
jdjboy — September 25, 2006 @ 7:14 am
Thank you! I’ve been listening to Broken Social Scene for ages but have only recently gotten into Feist’s solo stuff.
PS, love the Hornby quote.
-Jess
Jessica — October 25, 2006 @ 6:32 pm
Hmmm…Leslie’s zipper seems to be stuck. Any chance you can upload these puppies again? Dig the new album, and heard a couple of these recently, they sound fantastic.
Dig the blog.
Anonymous — May 8, 2007 @ 12:08 am
Unstuck! Fantastic. Thanks, Heather.
Anonymous — May 11, 2007 @ 5:45 am
You are amazing. I have nothing else to say, I’m that excited!
Anonymous — September 12, 2007 @ 11:25 am