Music Review

22 November 2008 08:48 BST

Retro cool from French duo John and Jehn

The Luminaire, an old-school venue perched atop the Kilburn Pub in north-west London, recently hosted the launch of the new album from electrifying French duo John and Jehn.

However, the party was kickstarted by intriguing two-piece outfit Joe Gideon and the Shark.

This band featuring a male vocalist who wields a mean guitar and a female drummer-cum-pianist make sexy swamp rock that evokes the Doors while mixing in a UK sensibility that details the humdrum existence of working 9-5 in a department store.

Although there is a tendency for the band to meander with overly long sequences.

These bouts of self-indulgence, blissful in the studio, can be alienating live but the timely interplay of delicate yet fiery drums pull Joe Gideon and the Shark back on track.

The band's set crackled with powerful and moody songs such as Tidal Wave, Stand Tall, Daughter Of A Looney and Ways Of Man.

Underneath the moodiness of the tracks is a lively, knowing sense of humour that makes you smile and was fully appreciated as evidenced by the applause and cheering of the crowd.

Although, I wonder if the young couple snogging by the doors broke off from their tonsil tango long enough to add to the applause.

Perhaps 15 minutes after Joe Gideon and the Shark wrapped up their set, headliners John and Jehn took to the stage, however, in the dimly lit and heady atmosphere of the Luminaire time seems to stand still.

It may have been St George's Day elsewhere in the UK but one small part of London had a distinctly French flavour when John and Jehn unleashed their skewed Eurobilly pop that joyously salutes British legends like Joy Division, Led Zeppelin and the Beatles.

John is a human dynamo, sizzling with attitude and a retro cool when he dons shades and struts around the stage. But he's more than met his match in the stunning Jehn, his musical partner and lover, whose animalistic yelps and whoops are coupled to a smouldering femme fatale persona.

When the duo's guitars duel, it's like being struck by lightning and they know they have complete control of the crowd, making people cheer, clap loudly, smile and bop about to the music.

John passionately thanked the crowd, who were hungry for more, at the end of a scalding hot set which included D.O.M., Fear Fear Fear, My Friends and Sister by saying: "Merci Beaucoup, you're so f***ing great!"

Submitting to the audience, John and Jehn provided a fantastic encore with Night Train, a slow-burning, sinister song, with an intro somewhat similar to Riders On The Storm played by a nonchalant Parisian bar ensemble at 5am.

Then it's full tilt into Julee Cruise/David Lynch territory with echoey vocals and unhinged guitars, welcoming your imagination to a surreal version of the Gare Du Nord in the French capital where Jim Morrison has just finished his third bottle of wine.

Lee Davis