It seems like an eternity since we last heard from our other favourite French duo and as it became increasingly hard for us to get our hands on the outfit’s first two deleted albums Au Reve and 1999 (without paying import prices), things weren’t looking so good. So as the unpredictable world of music would have it, as soon as we started to slowly expel the breath we’d been holding for their return, they delivered 15 Again, a sun-kissed, beat driven, pop haven that will undoubtedly be one of the highest contenders to take out 2006’s album of the year title.
Cassius, comprising of Zdar (Philippe Cerboneschi) and his long time production partner in crime Boombass (Hubert Blanc-Francard), have been just as eager to make their return. Deciding ‘what better time than the present?’ they got out of Paris and took advantage of Philippe’s large rented abode on the famous Isle of Ibiza. While there they nailed the album in a brief three week stint through the summer of 2005, before returning to Paris to mix and prepare it for release. ‘It was very fast’ says Philippe of the writing process this time round, as the band put their previous ethos (to gather a strong collection of tracks over time) to rest and decided to take a fresh approach. ‘We decided to try it and see how it worked for us this time. We started to work on it at home in Paris last year, but when we’re in Paris we do more talking than working, so we decided to go for 3 weeks to a house I was renting in Ibiza and at the end of this process we would come back to Paris to mix and put out whatever we had.’ he says with a lingering smile of contentment in his voice.
Our first taste of things to come was with the ever-catchy electro bomb ‘Toop Toop’, which has been steadily burning up the charts and holding up national airwaves over the last two months. ‘It’s funny, because we thought it was shit!’ laughs Zdar, ‘It was too pop, so we weren’t going to release it. Then Boombass’ girlfriend heard it and said “You’re crazy! You have to release this!” so we went back into the studio and worked on it some more. When you don’t think about things, that’s when magic happens,’ he reveals of the track’s close-call to an early death. ‘Toop Toop’s high rotation radio attention was unbeknown to Philippe, as there’s no radio or television to be found in the media-free Zdar household. ‘The TV at home for me is a nightmare, I have too many books to read or things to be doing [instead], rather than watching TV for hours and not really watching [it]’ he explains of his choice to ban media from the house. ‘I see my friends becoming ridiculously uncultured [from TV] and me, I just can’t do that [to myself]. The TV at home is like cocaine, if I don’t have [it], I don’t need [it], if I have [it], I use [it]’ he laughs.
15 Again is a blissful trip, filled with light, love and a whole lot to dance about, and sees the virtuosos take a more traditional song-based approach than they’ve dared to before. With some stunning duets between the boys and French newcomer Gladys, who’s vocals glitter through a bevy of new sun kissed tracks, including the sublime Zdar original ‘Rock & Roll #1’. ‘That was actually one of the tracks I had for my solo record’ Zdar explains, ‘but I just loved it and couldn’t wait to get it out!’ he laughs, ‘so we did it with the band and it just fit in with the vibe of the record.’
The inspiration of Ibiza’s glorious summer surrounds, glistens through with an obvious warmth and happiness throughout the album. Even on the anti-love song ‘This Song’, which oozes savour faire and toe-tapping melody (think a Goldfrapp kinda sexiness), but sees our love hero turning a little nastier than expected. ‘That song was in direct with someone I was meeting [seeing]’ he laughs of the track’s inspiration. ‘Things just started to go too fast and that was my reaction. That [track] came out in one flow. It’s hard when you’re in love and not on the same level, one person is always on a different level to the other’ he concludes thoughtfully.
The record also sees some tear-inducing collaborations with the likes of Sebastien Tellier, Le Knight Club (Guy-Manuel de Homem Christo & Eric Chedeville).
One of the most surprising appearances however, is that of Hip Hop artist/producer kingpin, Pharrell Williams, who provides the vocals on the previously released Cassius instrumental ‘Eye Water.’ ‘It was crazy’ recalls Zdar of the story, ‘we’d been told that he was a fan of that track (which is also my favourite Cassius track we’ve ever written). So I got him on the phone and he told me that it was his favourite track released in the last 10 years!’ he adds excitedly. ‘So we met in London and got it down in one day, he was great, very music-driven and easy’ he says of working with the famously difficult character.
Apart from cementing the duo’s belief in their partnership, 15 Again has also set in place the first stone on the band’s live wall of sound. As they prepare to bring it to us like never before, in full 7-piece band mode and will see Zdar return to centrestage, under the vocal spotlight for the first time since belting out Police covers with his band back in high school. ‘It [being back behind the mic] can be a bit like love, daunting sometimes –but I just close my eyes and feel at home again.’