Emilie Simon and “The Arm” at The Living Room (10/22/10)

Photo: Jon Klemm
Listen: “Rainbow” – Emilie Simon

Emilie Simon‘s new record, The Big Machine, will be released in the USA on April 12, 2011. But, if you can’t wait until then to get your Emilie fix, the album is available now as an import on amazon.com.

One of France’s most renowned artists, Emilie Simon, launched her career in 2003 and immediately captured the imagination of a large audience with her sprawling and elegant musical fantasies, earning three Victoires de la Musique (France’s Grammy equivalent) during the course of her first three albums. She gained international acclaim for scoring the smash documentary March of the Penguins and saw her first US release in 2006 with The Flower Book. In 2008, she relocated to Brooklyn where she recorded her new album The Big Machine surrounding herself with talented guests such as Kelly Pratt and Jeremy Gara (Arcade Fire) as well as Jon Natchez (Beirut) or Mark Plati (David Bowie, The Cure, Brazilian Girls).

The Big Machine is full of Emilie’s powerful and seductive voice, inventively playful arrangements, driving synths and rhythms, and prodigious melodies. “The Ballad of the Big Machine” driving piano and horns punctuate Emilie’s plea to let her in. The percolating rhythm of “The Cycle” commands you to dance as Emilie’s voice wraps itself around the beats and soars until the song explodes. “Rocket to the Moon” takes us back to an era that didn’t quite exist, it’s big band sound is reminiscent of the 1920s is also decorated with futuristic flourishes. “This is Your World” ends the adventure with a command to reclaim the world.

More “lost” pictures of Emilie Simon at CMJ 2010, a video and a few Canadian tour dates after the jump.

Emilie Simon 2011 Tour Dates
February 17, 2011 L’Astral Montreal, Quebec
February 18, 2011 Théâtre Granada Sherbrooke, Quebec
February 19, 2011 Théâtre Petit Champlain Quebec City, Quebec

Emilie Simon at The Living Room (10/22/10)