After more than 20 years, 8½ Souvenirs released their CD: At The Movies, produced by Charlie Sexton.
CD comes with a 10 page insert including all the song lyrics, photos and liner notes.
The music is a multilingual musical confluence of European cafe society, hot club, circus swing, and jazz with songs in English, French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. They are heavily influenced by both jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt ("Souvenirs") and Nino Rota, composer of Federico Fellini's film 8 ½. At The Movies is their "what if we only get to make one more record, what do we want people to hear" album. It is a collection of songs the band has been playing weekly at their C-Boy's Heart & Soul residency since they reunited in 2014, and the album is as eclectic as the band.
At The Movies was recorded at Churchhouse Studios in Austin, TX, with David Boyle engineering. The album credits include Kathy Benayoun (executive producer, vocals, kazoo, claves), Olivier Giraud (guitar, vocals, writer, analog synth, whistling), Dan Walton (pianoforte, accordion, Hammond organ, analog synth), Todd Wulfmeyer (contrabass), and Robb Kidd (drums, percussion). Charlie also adds his Oud, Bouzouki, Mandocello, Guitar, and vocals on various tracks.
Tony Scalzo of Fastball said, “I have known them since I moved to town in the 90s and have always admired their musicianship and aesthetic. I ran into my old friend, Kathy Benayoun, their original and current lead-vocalist, and she said they would soon be recording a new album with Charlie Sexton producing. I immediately asked her if she’d be interested in working up a French-language version of our song, The Way, and she agreed it could work well. Guitarist and musical director Olivier Giraud worked out the lyrics to not only fit the original vibe of the song but tell the story in a new and refreshing way. I got together with the band, and we talked about how this version would appeal to French ears and bring it to an audience who may not be familiar with the song. I had initially agreed to join them in the studio, but Covid made that impossible. I watched and waited from afar as the band went to work with Charlie, and soon, I had a mix to listen to. I think this is the best cover of the song I’ve yet to hear.”
Includes unlimited streaming of At The Movies
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This Django-inspired number is our version of a French fairy tale. An updated version of the one found on the "Twisted Desire" album.
Written & Composed by Olivier Giraud
lyrics
C'est une étrange affaire
De bien avant la guerre
Concernant une femme
Tout habillée de noir
Qui dans toute sa gloire
De bien des hommes était la flamme
Les séduisait en robe de soie
Les attirait dans les coins noirs
Et là commençait la drame
De ces hommes il y eut' un
Malin comme un Lutin
Commissaire de metier il su gagne
Le coeur de la Femme Araignée
Il la fit arrêter, et elle fut condamnée
Pour le restant ses jours
A manger de navets
Pour tous les déjeuners
Spider Lady, spider web
Spider Ogre in spite of her said
My fate, my love, my life is all overplayed
Away, away, away
C'est une étrange affaire
De bien avant la guerre
Concernant une femme
Qu'on connaissait comme
La Femme Araignée
Spider Lady, spider web
Spider Ogre in spite of her said
My fate, my love, my life is all overplayed
Away, away, away
C'est une étrange affaire
De bien avant la guerre
Concernant une femme
Qu'on connaissait comme
La Femme Araignée
C'est une étrange affaire
De bien avant la guerre
Concernant une femme
Qu'on connaissait comme
La Femme Araignée
credits
from At The Movies,
released August 20, 2021
Olivier Giraud - Vocals, Guitar
Kathy Benayoun - Vocals
Dan Walton - Keys
Todd Wulfmeyer - Contrabass
Robb Kidd - Drums
Other Instruments:
Charlie Sexton - Guitar, Oud, Bazouki, Mandocello, Percussion, Vocals
Produced by Charlie Sexton
Engineered by David Boyle
Mixed by Charlie Sexton & David Boyle
Recorded & Mixed at Churchhouse Studios in Austin, TX
Mastered by Michael Fossenkemper
Executive Producer: Kathy Benayoun
8 1/2 Souvenirs reunited in 2014, after a 20-year break. NEW ALBUM “At The Movies”, produced by Charlie Sexton, out
NOW!
Kathy Benayoun (neé Kiser) - vox & percussion
Olivier Giraud - vox & guitar
Dan Walton - piano & accordion
Todd Wulfmeyer - contrabass
Robb Kidd - drums...more
