PRISONER: French Garage-Psych Album Review

Wicked Cool Records to release self-titled debut from French six-piece on August 7

From the first note of French garage-psychedelic outfit PRISONER’s self-titled debut album, they had us in the palm of their hands. This is a pure bliss dance party album, even if you’re dancing by yourself, Yé-Yé. David Lynch would have loved this band…

PRISONER arrives August 7 via Wicked Cool Records.

The six-piece ensemble is fronted by magnificent vocalist Susanne Pemmerl and led by guitarist Philippe “Philos” Simon-Girard. PRISONER combines the force of a rock band with the depth and flexibility of a full ensemble. The lineup is completed by Sébastien on bass, Marcus on trombone, Étienne on drums, and Lucas on keyboards.

Official Music Video “La femme qui s’était faite toute seule”

Two of our favorite tracks are “Ton histoire n’est pas mon histoire (Your Story is Not My Story)” and “Jeu de main, jeu de vilain (Playful Hands Harmful Ends).” PRISONER delivers a perfect cocktail of surf guitar influence, ethereal vocals, and Sébastien’s absolute grooving bass lines in perfect sync with Étienne’s drums. All of this is enhanced by Lucas’s keyboards and the dramatic brass tones of Marcus’s trombone.

This is our new favorite band.

PRISONER:

Susanne — Vocals, Philos — Guitar, Sébastien — Bass, Marcus — Trombone, Étienne — Drums, Lucas — Keyboards.

TRACK LISTING

1. La femme qui s’était faite toute seule — 2:59 – The Self Made Woman
2. Jeu de main, jeu de vilain — 3:45 – Rough Play Leads to Trouble
3. Je ne retiendrai que toi — 3:23 – I will choose only you
4. Borné pour obéir — 3:45 – Obedience Post
5. Am I an AI — 3:35 – Es-tu
6. Ton histoire n’est pas mon histoire — 2:46 – Your story is not my story
7. Il nous faudrait une bonne guerre — 2:55 – We could do with a good war
8. L’enfant qui est en moi parle — 3:10 – The child within me is speaking
9. Le trouble-fête — 3:25 – The spoilsport
10. Le paradis perdu — 3:14 – Paradise Lost
11. Le village olympique — 2:17 –  The Olympic Village
12. Le retour de l’homme qui valait mieux — 3:09 – The Return of the Man Who Was Worth More
13. Raumpatrouille — 2:24 – Space Patrol
14. Les peine à jouir — 3:46 – The inability to enjoy one’s rights
15. The Self Made Woman — 3:00 (*digital only) – 
16. Playful Hands Harmful Ends — 3:44 (*digital only)
17. I’m an AI (*digital only)