White Hinterland does Françoise en Française

Bostonian songstress Casey Dienel began the year with a bang, issuing Phylactery Factory, her first album under the name White Hinterland, in March. She's now set to end the ought-eight in similar style, following on with an extra-playing five-track set sung wholly in French.

Her October 21-due EP is entitled Luniculaire. If you're scrambling for your French dictionary, fear not; Luniculaire is not a French word, but a portmanteau wedding together "lunaire" (lunar) and "funiculaire" (funicular, as in railway).

Along with two Dienel originals, penned in French, the 23-year-old has the sand to tackle tracks made famous by French icons Françoise Hardy ("Mon Amie La Rose"), Serge Gainsbourg ("Requiem Pour Un Con"), and the incomparable Brigitte Fontaine ("J'ai 26 Ans," from her legendary LP Comme à la Radio, an unhinged collaboration with Areski and the Art Ensemble of Chicago that I'm saving a place for in the Definitive Albums section).

Dienel and crew recently visited the Daytrotter studio to lay down a sweetly set of live-ly songs. And, Rocktober will find her taking the White Hinterland show on the road, with Dienel's first-ever European Tour, which culminates, fittingly, with shows in Paris and Brussels.

Luniculaire Track List
1. "Requiem Pour Un Con"
2. "Chant de Grillon"
3. "Mon Ami La Rose"
4. "Lunirascible"
5. "Orphaned"

Photo © [Tod Seelie]