Skip to main content
Home
  • fr
  • en

FacebookInstagramTwitterBandCampYouTube

  • News
  • Artists
  • Catalog
  • Videos
  • Feline Sessions
  • Gigs
  • Orwell

    Exposition universelle

  • Orwell

    Fifth album

  • Orwell

    Pop !

  • Orwell

    Parcelle Brillante

Orwell

Since the dawn of the 2000s, French band Orwell, led by Jérôme Didelot, have been charting an original path on the land of Indie music production. Fashions and trends seem to have no hold on the group based in Nancy, which has developed an aesthetic of its own, between French delicacy and musical sophistication.

Past UK press

“Splendid baroque pop from North East France… Le Génie Humain is set apart by its beautiful arrangements: strings waft in and out, flutes add colour while the warm vocals evoke sunny days by the rivers… An exquisite and subtle album” **** MOJO – Kieron Tyler (June 2009)

“It’s truly irresistible pop that instantly transports the listener to imaginary Laurel Canyon pool parties or scenes from French detective films that were never made.” The Daily Express - Robert Spellman (August 2009)

“We may have to rethink the adjective Orwellian if this French band keep on making albums this delightful.”  The Sunday Times – Mark Edwards (April 2010)

“Orwell are a wonderful French band centering on the voice and compositions of Jérôme Didelot. Jérôme is a strong melodic songwriter in the classic mould, with overtones of Bacharach and Brian Wilson.” Jonathan Coe – (March 2011)

Five years have passed since the last album, Exposition universelle . For this return in the form of a Parcelle brillante (Bright Segment in English), Jérôme Didelot immersed himself in the stories of the writer Theodore Sturgeon, to whom he borrowed the title of the album. After coordinating a publication dedicated to this pioneer of science fiction, the melodist left the themes of difference — the one that brings out new possibilities — or loneliness, dear to Sturgeon, permeate the songs of Parcelle brillante .

Les mains de Bianca, mesmerizing ballad where wind instruments come to measure themselves with electronics, Lone, ode to marginal childhood, and of course the title piece are directly inspired by the writings of the American author.

On Parcelle brillante we find the rich instrumental palette, in the service of sophisticated arrangements, which has made the mark of Orwell’s sound since the first album, Des lendemains (released in the U.S. with the title Following Days). Dérivation, entry into instrumental matter, diverts us from the usual currents to take us on a parallel circuit, developing a majestic theme that evokes the great John Barry. Two female singers stand out alongside Jérôme Didelot. Armelle Pioline (Holden, Superbravo) deploys her all-French class on the bouncy Jamais assez against a background of marimba, strings and saxophone. As for the Japanese Sugar Me, she adds a touch of exoticism to the song Immature, a sinuous melody that would not have denied Gilbert O’Sullivan or Sean O’Hagan. Orwell even makes a foray into a less usual register, an acoustic pop at the gates of jazz, as David Sylvian formulated so well in the 80s and 90s, on the track Rien ne pourra me rendre sage. Finally, Orwell doesn’t forget to make catchy choruses on Pourquoi savoir? or Les ondes.

Discography : 2000 - Orwell (mini album - Europop 2000 / PopLane) / 2002 - Des lendemains (Europop 2000 / Wagram) / 2005 - L’archipel  (Twin Fizz / Discograph) / 2007 - Le génie humain  (Twin Fizz / Rue Stendhal) / 2011 - Continental (Europop 2000 / Rue Stendhal) / 2015 - Exposition universelle (Europop 2000 / Rallye Label / Hot Puma Records / Rue Stendhal)

Official website: 
http://www.orwellmusic.com
Websites: 
Facebook
Twitter
Bandcamp
Youtube
Booking France

Latest news about Orwell

Laurel Canyon Dreaming

21st May 2021

Live session for Magic Rpm recorded march 2021.

Régis Nesti : drums - Emmanuel Harang : bass - Jacques Tellitocci : vibraphone, backing vocals - Renaldo Greco : flute, keyboard, backing vocals - Sarah Tanguy : cello - Jérôme Didelot : guitar, keyboard, vocals.

Sound : Sébastien Fetet with the help of Arthur Coiffard - Mix : Sébastien Fetet - Shooting : Thibault Grégoire, Thierry Bellia - Editing : Thierry Bellia - Calibration : Thibault Grégoire.

Thanks to Amandine, Nicolas, Paul, Jean-Philippe Béraud and all the team at L'Autre Canal Nancy.

Read more

Laurel Canyon Dreaming (session live)

  • Read more about Laurel Canyon Dreaming (session live)

Bright and light

28th January 2021

Thanks Pop News ! [...] Tout est brillant, cristallin, précieux et forcément unique comme un flocon de neige. Pour finir, Orwell par Orwell, avec un « À ce jour » instrumental, allégé des paroles. Redira-t-on tout le bien que l’on pense de l’album “Exposition Universelle” (2015) dont est tiré le titre ? Ne regardons pas si loin en arrière, réécoutons le bien nommé “Parcelle Brillante” paru l’an dernier. Et profitons de la lumière chatoyante de ces “Sunny Songs for Winter” : l’hiver sera (redeviendra ?) joyeux. [...]

Read more

Gray Days and Gold

4th January 2021

Parcelle Brillante top 25 of 2020 Gray Days and Gold. Thank you Mark F Griffin !

Jérôme Didelot’s first album in five years, doing what he does best: lush, lightly-psychedelic, swoon-worthy baroque pop. 

Read more

Sunny Songs For Winter EP

24th December 2020

Release of a Xmas EP called Sunny Songs For Winter including 4 covers and 1 instrumental.

Read more

Flying (Joe Raposo cover)

  • Read more about Flying (Joe Raposo cover)

It's Magic !

18th December 2020

Thank you Magic, Revue Pop Moderne for placing Orwell's Jamais Assez in the top 100 songs of 2020!

Read more
See all news for this artist…

Releases

Parcelle Brillante
Exposition Universelle

Videos

Embedded thumbnail for Laurel Canyon Dreaming (session live)
Laurel Canyon Dreaming (session live)
Embedded thumbnail for Flying (Joe Raposo cover)
Flying (Joe Raposo cover)
Embedded thumbnail for Les Mains de Bianca
Les Mains de Bianca
Embedded thumbnail for Les Ondes
Les Ondes
Embedded thumbnail for Jamais Assez avec Armelle Pioline
Jamais Assez avec Armelle Pioline
Embedded thumbnail for Teaser 2020
Teaser 2020
Embedded thumbnail for Courbes
Courbes
Embedded thumbnail for Cent Façons De Se Passer Du Monde (Session Féline-Feline Session)
Cent Façons De Se Passer Du Monde (Session Féline-Feline Session)
Embedded thumbnail for Je Ne Sais Pas Mourir (Tokyo Acoustic Session)
Je Ne Sais Pas Mourir (Tokyo Acoustic Session)
Embedded thumbnail for Taking islands in Africa
Taking islands in Africa
Embedded thumbnail for Les Explorateurs
Les Explorateurs
Embedded thumbnail for Je ne sais pas mourir
Je ne sais pas mourir
Embedded thumbnail for Je ne sais pas mourir (session féline/feline session)
Je ne sais pas mourir (session féline/feline session)
Embedded thumbnail for Every time the world is too loud (live session 2011)
Every time the world is too loud (live session 2011)
Embedded thumbnail for I need an end (live session 2011)
I need an end (live session 2011)
Embedded thumbnail for Elémentaire
Elémentaire
Embedded thumbnail for I need an end
I need an end
Embedded thumbnail for Toutes les nouvelles parlent d'hier
Toutes les nouvelles parlent d'hier
Embedded thumbnail for In your playground
In your playground

Photos

Newsletter

Get all the label's latest news by subscribing to our newsletter…

  • Home
  • News
  • Artists
  • Catalog
  • Videos
  • Gigs
  • Demo Policy
  • Contact
Boris Maurussane
Coco Business Plan
Frantic
Grimme
Hugo Chastanet
Jack And The '
John Cunningham
Julien Bouchard
Kidsaredead
MED
Orwell
Scampi
Son Parapluie
Tahiti 80
V.I.R.US
Xavier Boyer

© Hot Puma Records.