* En anglais uniquement
The Soap Opera hail from Rennes, France and play the kind of frisky indie pop that would have had the sort of record labels who hand-folded their xeroxed record sleeves in the early '90s lining up to release their singles. Made up of three former members of the more psychedelic-leaning group
the Sudden Death of Stars, and two who had been playing together in the vintage R&B and soul group Les Spadassins, the band began recording in 2014. With Bloody Bulga on guitar and vocals, Professor Zorino on guitar and vocals, Copache on bass, and Holden Brahms holding down the drums, the group hit the studio with producer Fred Ernest and released a self-titled EP for Lagos and Howlin' Banana Records in early 2015. It neatly split the difference between the Sea Urchins' lilting pop and Orange Juice's chiming athletics, while including a cover of
the Pooh Sticks' "On Tape" just to make it clear where their sentiments lay. After some time spent writing and recording (this time at their home studio), and with Onyto Kawanishi playing bass on some tracks, the band returned with a second album in late 2017. More accomplished but still full of amateurish enthusiasm,
Ready to Hatch was released by the team of Ample Play and Howlin' Banana Records. ~ Tim Sendra