Chez Raymond, an EP by ME&LP of six disparate but complimentary songs crafted by Matthew Embree (RX Bandits) and Lisa Papineau (Big Sir), is a sentimental homage to the joys of collaboration and musical experimentation. The styles veer from lilting Flamenco on the EP opener Quatro to rolling country-folk on EP closer – a tune Embree calls “a joke” (it’s not) – Right On Down the Line with some pseudo Afro-pop and indie balladeering in between. Understand, there are no false notes to be found anywhere on this EP. This is owed in part to Lisa Papineau’s vast body of work traversing many genres and her obvious skill at creating compelling vocal instrumentations. Add to the mix the soulful voice of Matt Embree and you have a satisfying first beginning to what I hope is a long-term project.

I sat down with Matthew Embree for a brief Q&A when RX Bandits played in Sacramento on the farewell tour. I had no idea who he was or that he is very much loved and his band is popular with the kids. But I had listened to Chez Raymond at least 100 times by then so this interview is about that project.

FLABmag: I heard you met Lisa at an art opening and immediately knew you had to collaborate with her, but what was the context? Did you hear her sing or did you shake hands and it was an immediate connection?

Matthew Embree: No, I heard her sing first in the band Big Sir with Juan (Aldrete) from The Mars Volta and I thought she was just amazing and is obviously incredibly talented. Her voice just struck me, you know?

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They used to be in band called Pet together in the 90’s. Now Lisa Papineau (Me&LP, Big Sir) works with her old time band mate Tyler Bates on the incredible Soundtracks he does. Here is a great tune they did for the movie “Super”.

The AFI Fest, which takes place November 3rd - November 10th 2011, will be hosting two screenings of the documentary “Pina” about the late German choreographer Pina Bausch directed by Wim Wenders. The film features the song “The Here And After”, co-written by  Lisa Papineau (ME & LP , Big Sir) and Jun Miyake. The news comes as Pina was today named a nominee for the European Film Academy’s Documentary for 2011.

Make sure to reserve tickets here for the screenings on November 5th and November 7th.

PINA - Dance, dance, otherwise we are lost - International Trailer from neueroadmovies on Vimeo.

Lisa Papineau ’s voice is otherworldly, and is one of my absolute favorite sounds on this planet. This is her performing her song Sorry I Cannot English from the album Red Trees,  live from the Glassroom at Sargent House. This was kind of an accidental session as we had set up to have her play with two drummers and perform what would be a raucous rock song. But our grouchy ass neighbors have decided to boycott our drumming after dark. So the first song got shut down after only 1 ½ takes. Bummed and thinking it was a non starter. I begged her to please perform a vocal only type song, to which she replied in typical Papineau sass. “So you want me to play some stupid, girly, soft song?” but she loves me, and I won the battle. So through tears of frustration she layed down this beauty. It gives me chills. Thanks to Behn Fannin for shooting and Editing it along with Tim Schutsky on second camera. 

..And don’t fret, coming soon we will post her session with Technology and that song we all thought was a throw away…. so good.

Matthew Embree and Lisa Papineau, two musicians with quite the pedigree between them (Rx Bandits and Big Sir, plus contributions to Air and M83, respectively), have joined forces in the shape of ME & LP. An unexpected pairing with backgrounds that could have landed them anywhere on the map, the surprising result is all the more satisfying. “Bonnie Says (No Shitty Ride)” has a dance groove at its core, maracas and some well-placed plucking creating a nice foil to Embree’s seasoned crooning. Papineau’s part does much the same, offering an airy, playful flair with parallels to Thao & Mirah’s latest at times. And just as with that dream team, ME & LP showcase the mark of a worthy match-up, pushing each other successfully into new terrain. The LP, Chez Raymond, is out August 9 on Sargent House.

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Big Sir is Lisa Papineau and Juan Alderete. After a five year wait Big Sir have just finished their 3rd album and it will be coming out on RLP / SH in January 2012 with a lot of great special guest players including Cedric Bixler Xavala on drums. We have already been talking a lot about Lisa and Juan’s other projects; Sargent House put out Lisa Papineau’s solo album Red Trees in 2010 and is releasing the new EP she just did with our own Matthew Embree under the moniker ME&LP entitled Chez Raymond on August 9, 2011. Juan plays bass in The Mars Volta, as well as in the Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group and Vato Negro. So we figured it was time to start talking about their new Big Sir album and to introduce to you this music if you are not familiar already. So we will be giving away for FREE Download their last album entitled Und Die Scheiße Ändert Sich Immer all weekend, just enter your email address - we won’t spam you and you can unsubscribe anytime if you don’t want any further news from Big Sir.  Enjoy and share it with friends! 

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