John & Jehn

It shouldn’t be this hard, I can’t get my head around this band at all. There’s nothing seemingly complex about them. The only thing I can think of is that it reminds me of Cathy Davey’s first record, but I don’t know why, maybe it’s the artificial beats.

I first heard them on Late Junction, saw the instant appeal but was generally underwhelmed. Its so arty, fluttering about ‘Johnny, Johnny’ – there’s a tangible aspiration for the Factory. Then, X months later I find myself at the counter frittering away Sterling on an EP; The record gathers dust as I trudge through the back log until yesterday when it got its proper airtime and it started coming together. These little pop ditties feel like fumbling in a bush, a quick fingering… whatever. Softcore? Yes, but smut none the less.

I’m trying to gauge how successful they are and guess that they’re doing better in France (I’m not very good at this game, last week I thought Glasvegas were the biggest band in the UK). Les Inrockuptibles, a French music and arts weekly with considerable domestic clout – that’s better for coverage than it is opinion – seems to be behind the group and like to compare them to Bonnie & Clyde for some unknown reason.

They’re from France, they live in London, they’ve got a blog, what more do you want? Brioche? Ok, Ok, click on the picture for their myspace. Fin.