With their debut album “Sad Cities Handclapers”, northern France-based Electric Electric sum up the mood of their town like nobody else. Situated 30 Kms (18 miles) away from the German border, Strasbourg has changed nationality no less than four times between 1870 and 1945, and in history has become a symbolic capital of Europe. Despite all of this, it remains a cold-as-ice city where only a couple of clubs program indie music. One such venue, the Molodoi, was threatened with closure right up to the beginning of November.

But happily, from within this uncertain context, a whole nebula of bands ermerged over the last 20 years, making Strasbourg one of the most prolefic cities in the country as far as music goes. Local bands such as The Dreams, Enregistré par Steve Albini (recorded by Steve Albini), Bravo Brian, Roméo & Sarah, and Electric Electric who formed in 2004 as a duo, following in the tracks of bands such as  Arab On radar or Shellac, and who currently play as a lovesick three-piece with a school boy crush on Joy Division.

Listen to the whole record.

And don’t forget to check out the Bonus (bottom right corner “BONUS”)