SURPRISE RECORDS & LOWLANDS present

VIVE LA FÊTE!

First up, there’s the name.Three words, in French, often punctuated by an exclamation mark. “Vive La Fête” translates as “Long Live The Party” (as in celebration, festivity, bash, all-nighter, not as in some political wing). It’s a statement of positivism, a declaration of intent: music and people, dancing and romancing as a life-force, a big no to anything conformist and square.

Of course, the fact any decent party should include the proverbial promise of sex and drugs and rock ‘n roll also accounts for the choice of the name of this band…

And now for some history… and a love story
In 1997, when Danny Mommens, at that time bass player with renowned Belgian art-rock band dEUS, met blond bombshell Els Pynoo, lightning struck and assorted bells started chiming. They soon indulged in the sort of sticky things most newly-met lovebirds tend to favour, but they also did the decent thing: to seal their love and lust, they recorded some music in Danny’s home studio. Originally intended as (ahum) bedroom material, those tracks nevertheless got released on the Paris EP.

Calling themselves VIVE LA FÊTE, Danny and Els initially were treated like an anomaly: they unanimously and publicly vowed allegiance to sleazy glamour, cheeky humour and anything-goes optimism (quite a feat in the irony-ridden late nineties) and made a kind of music that blended the least expected (and at that time, the least favourable) influences and genres into a truly unique sound.

Danny, ever the human jukebox, shamelessly displayed his love for eighties synth pop, melancholic cold wave and back-to-basics electronica, while Els juxtaposed his sparse and rhythmic soundscapes with cooing, breathy vocals and self-penned lyrics, written in French, her way of paying tribute to her heroes (sixties chanteuses like Brigitte Bardot and Jane Birkin and suave wordsmiths like Jacques Dutronc and Serge Gainsbourg - it should be noted that French isn’t even Els’ native tongue!).

They literally looked and sounded like no-one else on the scene. Danny, eyes hidden behind black sunglasses, a fag dangling from his mouth, churning out brutal guitar riffs and explosive electronic beats, giving the middle finger to the weedy rock fraternity of the “look at me I’m serious”- type. Els, dressed in vixen-ish mini-skirts and knee-length leather boots, strikingly flaunting her femininity with class and authority, singing in her distinctive, seductive voice about love, friendship and inner turmoil.

“We always wanted to make that kind of music for ourselves, and for all the homosexuals, bisexuals, lesbians and other modern people like you and me. And then have a party together” -Danny Mommens- i-D Magazine

Attaque Surprise, their first full album released in 2000, offered an honest and detailed insight into The World of VIVE LA FÊTE: sex and erotica, but doubt and heartbreak too; exuberance and trash, interspersed with contemplation and self-analysis; goofiness and good old fun, with the right dose of discipline.

“At odds with everything and anyone, playful, confrontational and…sexy” -Crash Magazine on VIVE LA FÊTE

2001 saw the release of VIVE LA FÊTE’s third album République Populaire. Taking in hard-edged electro, cinematic synth pop, gentle torch ballads and wigged-out rock-outs, République Populaire proved to be both diverse and highly personal.

Then in a weird turn of fate, a fashion rollercoaster swiftly took VIVE LA FÊTE around the world.

“Her best friend’s a supermodel, her boyfriend’s a rock star and her biggest fan is Karl Lagerfeld. Els Pynoo of VIVE LA FÊTE: a Blondie for electro’s new generation.” - i-D Magazine

The real breakthrough came in spring 2002, when Karl Lagerfeld proclaimed himself Vive’s biggest fan and returned the favour by letting them play a live set during the Paris presentation of his Chanel collection. VIVE LA FÊTE performed in front of the world’s most renowned fashion editors and fashion photographers and made fashion news headlines everywhere. Lagerfeld also took the band on board for his subsequent Chanel shows in Tokyo and Las Vegas. Suddenly, Vive’s phone number was in every fashionista’s book and Els Pynoo was heralded as a new style icon. Italia Vogue dedicated a 20-page photo shoot to the Belgian beauty, and both American Vogue and Vogue Paris followed duly. New York avant-garde magazine V got Vive to pose on its glossy pages and to play on their exclusive parties while British style bible i-D got into a Vive frenzy as well. The band also played at the Bal de la Rose, the annual celebrity bash in Monaco, hosted by the royal family of Monaco.

“Sound and style. Music and fashion. The connection is clear” - V Magazine

Oh, so VIVE LA FÊTE are just another fashion-endorsed nouveau electro so-hip-it-hurts kinda combo then?
Wrong. They were doing electropop before the word was invented. They don’t consider fashion parties their natural hunting grounds ( but if the drinks are free, well…) They don’t do “ironic” robot dances. They’re not jumping on the I Love The Eighties bandwagon for the sake of it. Why should they? They had it all sorted out years ago, and have the back catalogue to prove it.

“We don’t put on an act. Despite the flashlights and the synthesisers and the electric guitars and the make-up and the high heels, we are true to ourselves” - Els Pynoo in i-D Magazine

2003: the next step…
Well, basically a new album, their fourth, called Nuit Blanche (an expression the French use to describe a festive night without sleep). The album is very well received all over Europe. Sales go well and the album gets a place in several charts worlwide.

"I think Nuit Blanche is about the best electropop record ever, and I'm comparing it to some of my own old heroes from the eighties, The Human League, Depeche Mode, Indochine, Rita Mitsouko, Ultravox; NUIT BLANCHE IS JUST FANTASTIC!!!" -Swedish media quote

2004 - the grand breakthrough: VLF conquers the world !!!

“Hailing from Belgium, VIVE LA FÊTE is the most stylish musical duo since Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin or Debbie Harry & Chris Stein; and they have a perfect electro-sound (they call it “kitch pop”) that makes you feel -and look- good… their record is excellent and their live act even better” - V Magazine

"Nuit Blanche" is released in Brasil, April 15th, 2004! ST2 Records in Sao Paulo will unleash the CD for the Brazilian market and will also export it to South and Latin America.
Mid april VLF go to BRASIL for 2 concerts at the festival Abril Pro Rock in Recife and an extra show in a club in Natal. All three shows were a big success, VLF is in great shape, the crowd went wild (brazilians like to party!) and the press was impressed.

Summer : VIVE LA FÊTE had a very busy summer again, they played at several major European festivals including Pinkpop (NL), Roskilde (DK), Gurten (CH), Arvika (S), Meetingpop (E) and were also invited for 2 concerts in Russia (Moskou & St Petersburg). In Russia the Nuit Blanche album is released in July by Soyuz Music and in France by V2.

After the summer they tour and play in France, Switserland, Scandinavia, Holland and Belgium and were invited to Montreal at the prestigious Montreal Electronique Groove Festival.
Most of the concerts were sold-out !!!

** 2005 - Time for a new cult meeting and a new full album!
During the cold winter months Danny & Els withdraw themselves far away from their usual party life at their home studio in a small farm in the middle of nowhere to concentrate on writing new songs. Clearly inspired by their outrageous live performances, the ideas came fluently. Lyrics were written, loud guitar riffs scared the locals, pumping bass lines made their huge animal stock vibrate, fat beats and hunting keyboards waves flew around.

Danny “hitmeister” Mommens overlooked the chaos, juggled it around and put everything in place to end up with 15 rough mixes and a big smile on his face!

Due to both being signed under the same Lowlands flag (on different labels), Els and Danny were bound to meet up with DAN LACKSMAN, the moustached cigarman and co-founder of TELEX. Quickly they discovered they were soul mates. It went pretty fast from there on; next thing you know they're all together mixing in Dan's Synsound studio (one of Europe's finest). The mixing went smoothly. Dan putting in his years of experience, throwing in some good old Moog sounds and having fun while working. A very concentrated Mr. Mommens by his side remodelling the songs till both end up with a huge smile on their face and a great new album in their hands.
“Grand Prix is that album you’ve been waiting for… done in great style…VLF are indeed the Formule I of the kitchpop sound…” a fan

** NEW SINGLE : HOT SHOT
The new single 'Hot Shot' (available on vinyl maxi) is the first product of this unique collaboration. All VLF ingredients are there but the guitar plays the dominant role in this all time kitshpopelektrock hit. And of course the club is kept in mind: the same track gets a dancefloor remix SHOT MIX and it's one of their best, believe us.
The other track's name should ring a bell somewhere in your head...it's BANANA SPLIT that made LIO worldfamous in one go, also thanks to Dan Lacksman's fine mix. VLF already played the track live on their live sets, so it was all too obvious for both parties to make "the best cover on a Lio track I have ever heard", according to Mister Lacksman himself...

** NEW ALBUM : GRAND PRIX
VIVE LA FÊTE's 4th full album GRAND PRIX is easily their best release so far. Straightforward, booming and confident, the album has a true pop sensibility without it losing its darker edges. All the VIVE LA FÊTE trademarks are here (the couple's call-and-response singing, the simple yet highly effective - and revealing- lyrics by Els, the still unique mix of dancefloor electro, bass-heavy punk rock and Sixties-style chansons) but it's obvious the scope has widened.

“Els Pynoo and her partner Danny Mommens are still excellent at fusing sixties French pop and eighties British new wave with the sound of now" Update Magazine UK

** NEW LIVE SHOW
VLF's full live show (keys, guitar, bass, drum, vocals) is without any doubt one of Europe's most exciting experiences which made audiences all over the world going wild, with lots of positive energy on stage and a straight forward rock'n roll attitude.
VLF live group = Els Pynoo (voice) & Danny Mommens (voice, guitar)
+ Ben Brunin (bass)+ Marc Requilé (keyboard) + Matthias Standaert (drums)

On 14 May VIVE LA FETE presented its new album GRAND PRIX to the audience in the prestigious Royal Circus in Brussels, in a double bill with eighties super group The Human League. The 2000 capacity venue was packed. Last on the bill, VLF closed the night in great style. Their live show was exuberant as usual, full of positive energy and very rock 'n roll. The new songs sounded great and got immediately picked up by the enthusiastic crowd.

"Get the new VIVE LA FÊTE 'Grand Prix' - their fourth album but they certainly haven't run out of steam. Fronted by knockout blond Els Pynoo and music man Danny Mommens - this fusion of electro with a dab of punk rock oozes charm and glamour. Think Blondie, think Brigitte Bardot, think Jane Birkin to stompin' songs." Spill magazine UK

** TV SHOW
On top of all this, Danny & Els will have a their own weekly item in a daily late nite talkshow on Belgian national television. Everybody knows the VLF music, but only few know about their big love for animals. Each week they'll do something with people sharing this love. Vive La Bête !

"Since the fashion world fell in love with Els Pynoo and Danny Mommens aka VIVE LA FÊTE!, the electro-pop duo has been tipped to hit it big and deservedly so." Update Magazine UK

Amongst their most famous fans we can count Karl Lagerfeld, Felix da Housecat, Tommie Sunshine, Laurent Garnier, Tom Tom Club, Christophe Lemaire, Jeremy Scott, Kelly Osbourne, Michel Gaubert, Walter van Beirendonck, Tiga, DJ Low, Bernard Willhelm … and many more dj’s, music lovers, fashion stars, movie actors and fans around the globe.

LAST LIVE SHOWS
27/05/05 UK CARGO LONDON 03/06/05 NL NIGHTTOWN ROTTERDAM 04/06/05 NL MELKWEG AMSTERDAM 10/06/05 NL 013 TILBURG 11/06/05 CH BAD BONN FESTIVAL D‹DINGEN 17/06/05 SE HULTFREDS FESTIVAL HULTFREDS 18/06/05 BE FÊTE DE LA MUSIQUE BRUSSEL 25/06/05 BE J FACTOR GENK 30/06/05 FR SCOPITONE FESTIVAL NANCY 02/07/05 NL OOSTERPOORT GRONINGEN 08/07/05 BE TURNHOUT VRIJ DAGEN TURNHOUT 09/07/05 BE HEE TERVUREN FEST TERVUREN 15/07/05 BE DOUR FESTIVAL DOUR 17/07/05 CH ROTE FABRIC ZURICH 30/07/05 BE KNEISTIVALKNOKKE HEIST 04/08/05 FR JEUDI DES PORTS BREST 06/08/05 BE BERG FESTIVAL DILSEN/STOKKEM 08/08/05 BE LOKERSE FEESTEN LOKEREN 14/08/05 FR ROUTE DU ROCK SAINT-MALO 20/08/05 NL LOWLANDS FESTIVAL BIDDINGHUIZEN 26/08/05 BE FEEST IN HET PARK OUDENAARDE more shows to be announced ! Catch the vibe and join the party !

Le spectacle que VIVE LA FÊTE a donné lors de la plus récente édition du Printemps de Bourges reste un des moments les plus palpitants que je raméne dans mes souvenirs de festivalier... Un délire électro-pop-rock, á la fois ultra-sexy et glam; que demander de plus pour s'amuser? Radio Canada

For all info : katrien@lowlands.be
Tel +32 3 470 25 00
www.lowlands.be
www.vivelafete.be