Téléphone

Téléphone formed in the Paris suburbs in 1976, with Jean-Louis Aubert on vocals and guitar, Richard Kolinka on guitar, Louis Bertignac on bass, and Corine Marienneau on drums. They came up during what was being called the new wave movement in France, though their sound had more rock and punk in it than some of their contemporaries. Songs like "La Bombe Humaine" and "Argent Trop Cher" gave them an early reputation for direct, sometimes charged lyrics that connected with younger listeners.

Their 1979 album "Argent trop cher" and the 1982 follow-up "Crache ton venin" were solid records that showed the band tightening up their songwriting without losing their edge. "Un Autre Monde" and "Au coeur de la nuit" are good examples of how they could write a hook that stuck while keeping the arrangements lean and driving. They weren't trying to be overly complicated, just effective.

The band called it quits in 1986 after releasing "Un autre monde." They got back together for a tour in 2006, which went over well, but that was about it for activity as a full group. You still hear their songs on French radio, and they're one of those bands that gets name-checked when people talk about French rock from that period.