July Skies & Epic45 Live In Paris

It was last Thursday and I didn’t want to miss the first Parisian gigs of July Skies and Epic45, two bands from the Make Mine Music catalogue, a collective of musicians and independent label (UK).
I was very much impressed by the music of July Skies (Coventry, UK) who had the task to open the evening in front of a noisy audience (Le Divan du Monde). The music of Anthony Hardin – who formed July Skies in 1997 - is mostly instrumental and invites you in a wistful journey in nostalgia (lost summers of youth and fractured memories of better days, of lazy days of summer). Hardin in a recent interview admit that the music of July Skies “is a continual search and attempt to reach the past, memories, love, longing, childhood, and post-war Britain”. The pictures showed behind the group completed that quest. If you like Slowdive, Durutti Column or Piano Magic, you must go to July Skies's websites and listen to some mp3 samples.
Epic45 came later but unfortunately I couldn’t enjoy the music quite well. The “ambient” style of Epic45 didn’t match with the general "ambiance" of Le Divan du Monde - people were more concerned to talk with the members of the French group (21 Love Hotel) who just played before them - too much noise, too much talking, it was impossible to enjoy the quiet music of Epic45. Next time, I hope.

Web: julyskies.com
MySpace: myspace.com/julyskies

July Skies - Framers and Villagers....mp3
July Skies - Garden Constellations .mp3

Web: goodversusevil.co.uk/epic45
MySpace: myspace.com/epic45

Epic45 - Motorway Journey .mp3

Photo: July Skies – Thanks to Micky. More pictures of the evening in lecargo.org/blog/