La Femme

Every once in a while, I’m gifted with an especially under-the-radar sonic gem—the kind of album that goes from “never heard of it” to “most played” in a manner of minutes. La Femme’s La Podium #1 is one of those surprise scores. The first in a series of EPs to be released by Third Side Records, #1 works as the perfect little introduction to these French newcomers. Lead track “Telegraphe” is a sinister mix of lo-fi surf guitars and dizzy new-wave synths. Lead single “Sur la Planche” is a daring plunge into a washed-out world of psychedelia, made poppy by some seriously femme French croons. Surf meets space for “La Femme Resort,” a simple and plinky mash-up of keyboards, guitar noise, and hiccupy speak-sing. As #1’s album closer, “Françoise” does a stellar job at hinting at what’s to come, with hushed vocals and atmospheric synth tones that are as oddly dreamy as La Femme themselves.