Nathan Roche – “35”

Always nice when an old favorite shows back up. Nathan Roche, an Aussie Expat who’s been spending the last decade or so in the Parisian scene, has often been known around here under the name Le Villejuif Underground, slipping out records through SDZ and Born Bad, though he’s been here even further back with the sorely missed Camperdown and Out. For his latest Roche isn’t hiding behind any alter egos, going it alone under his given name for a new album on Celluloid. The first single still finds those VU influences creeping in, starting with a lonesome guitar that’s somewhere between “Sweet Jane” and “Everybody Hurts,” but it veers into some garage soul sweat stains as it wears on. The song’s got some DNA from the aughts garage boom, feeling like it might fit in with a Mooney Suzuki tearjerker just as well as it’s more classic touchstones. Coming to terms with middle age, the song vacillates between it’s hangdog demeanor and the primal scream of Roche’s chorus. Add in some Exile-inclined background vocals and the song’s an engaging departure for the usually roughshod songwriter. The cut crops up on Roche’s new album, 35 rue du Théâtre, out next month from Celluloid.

Support the artist. Buy it HERE.