Starting 2020 on high wheels, Parisian crew Discomatin picked an ultimate banger of the 80’s boogie era,
Laying On The Sofa by French diva Isabelle Antena. Rare and expensive, the original 12inch here
remastered for full effect offers two extended versions/remixes by Belgian electro and jazz-funk hero Marc
Moulin and by American producer and DJ Mark Kamins. With her amazing voice and beautiful
compositions/productions, Isabelle signed on this release two of her many great songs.
« Laying On the Sofa » is a Sade-esque song with a lot of rich harmonies sublimated by the strong rhythms
of the 808. This Mark Kamins remix brings the song to its climax with kind of an housy extension with its
strong synths and guitars parts before it goes back to the chorus for an epic ending. Back in the days, NY DJ
Mark Kamins brought Isabelle to the famous Danceteria to perform. At the same time, he was recording some
of the first demos of Madonna… Do you feel the vibe?
« La Tête Contre Les Murs » with his « anti-system » feeling in the lyrics is the other beauty on the EP.
Remixed here by Telex member and jazz-funk don Marc Moulin, who became later the father of Isabelle
Antena via her husband, the song written by her and her mother describes an old but still fresh feeling.
Disillusioned, in loss of marks, with no directions: the words don’t miss to describe the youth and its feeling
towards society. Maybe, this is why « you’re crashing your head on the walls » as Isabelle sings. Maybe it’s
people trying to educate them in relation with certain norms who are in the end « maybe what the danger is ».
With her classical and so French casualness surrounded by syncopated rhythms, Isabelle transforms this
timeless topic to a song dedicated to all generations going through times of wanderings.
You may know Isabelle Antena other’s work like her French-Belgian synth-pop trio Antena which led later to
her another band Powaga Sisters. Combining minimal electro, pop and samba styles, Camino Del Sol was
one of her greatest albums. As a solo artist, she’s found particular success in Japan with samba-inflected nujazz and electro-pop compositions. Still, with her own words, this EP « means a lot » to her. Thanks to
Discomatin, it’s now available to the real connoisseurs with an exclusive insert which contains lyrics, again
with fantastic illustrations from French artist Camille de Cussac