Litovsk: French Punk Band Makes a Great Comeback With a New Mini-LP (Premiere)

Formed in the coastal city of Brest, in France’s Brittany region, Litovsk are a chorus pedal-driven punk band with a distinct post-punk influence.

Litovsk played their first gig at the end of 2013, at the height of the global post-punk revival. The band came together around bassist Clair’s idea of mixing influences from Spectres, The Estranged, and other bands of the 2010s with classic post-punk and old British anarcho-punk like A Touch of Hysteria, Zounds, and a bit of Second Empire Justice
Blitz. So far, Litovsk have played around 100 gigs in France, Germany, Eastern Europe, Spain, Euskal Herria, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Greece, and elsewhere. Although the band formed in Brest, where all the members met, two now live far away, making rehearsals and releases much more difficult.

After 2018’s excellent Dispossessed LP, a short EP, and a split 7-inch with fellow French bands Alarm, Barren?, and Douche Froide in 2019, Litovsk are finally making a comeback with a new self-titled mini-LP on French DIY labels Symphony of Destruction and Destructure Records.

“With this new LP, to sum it up, lyrically and conceptually, our bass player was influenced by the 1982 Beat Surrender LP by The Jam and the book The Beach by Cesare Pavese. This was the starting point for these five new tracks, influenced by the theme of the beach when we were teenagers,” the band comments on the new record.

In “La Plage,” one of Litovsk’s singers, Damou, sings about love, fighting, and his experiences as a 15- or 16-year-old on the coast of South Finistère. Their other singer, Manu, tries to recreate his memories of youth in Central Brittany in “Riverside,” a song about teenage boredom, moped riding, and getting drunk to hide the fact that you’re living in a shithole. The song was also influenced by Nicolas Mathieu’s book Their Kids After Them, which deals with basically the same themes but is set in eastern France in the late ’90s. The idea of spending late afternoons on the beach is also brilliantly captured by photographer Evan Lunven in the photos scattered around the lyric sheet in the LP’s insert.

Litovsk say it wasn’t their intention at first, but this mini-LP also says a lot about where they come from socially. On “Cerises et Grenades,” Damou talks about ten years of political resistance and struggle in Brest, and about his and the band’s life in the city. In a way, the song is also a tribute to French singer-songwriter and poet Jean Ferrat.

Manu talks about his family history in “Auntie Christine,” a song about his aunt and the burdens of patriarchy, bigotry, and social determinism. The last song, “They Say Home Is Where the Heart Is,” is, in Manu’s own words, “a non-chauvinistic love letter to Brittany and a plea against nationalism or patriotism, because punks don’t need to wrap themselves in a fuckin’ flag.”

You can now listen to the album in its entirety on Bandcamp.

Well, let’s break it down, song by song!

The first song, “Cerises et Grenades,” sung in French, evokes wonderfully nostalgic themes of lost youth, a time of fleeting joy that passes so quickly you can’t fully appreciate it until it’s gone. With beautiful chorus- and delay-driven guitar, not too dissimilar to the early work of R.E.M. and even The Pastels, its emotional and slightly off-key vocals add to the overall nostalgic effect. A great homage to a time long lost and an authentic type of DIY indie music that only certain people can enjoy!

“La Plage” also starts off very dreamy, with moments reminiscent of The Smiths and Johnny Marr’s ingenious jangly guitar work. Although the lyrical theme is different, the overall vibe is pretty similar to the first song on the mini-LP. With catchy, effect-laden guitars and woefully nostalgic vocals, you could easily mistake this band for some forgotten ’80s musical gem. That’s not to say they don’t sound original; they just evoke that ’80s jangly college rock feel so well in their own unique way!

The third song, “Riverside,” again starts with a heavy dose of guitar effects, mainly chorus, I think, but also some delay. Thematically, it deals with dreamy albeit woeful memories of lost youth, beautiful and creative boredom, and all the teen angst you can think of. At times, it sounds more like The Replacements than R.E.M., but you can definitely hear some ’80s French coldwave too, especially in the beautiful arpeggio parts!

“Auntie Christine” is a song about the social boundaries of toxic patriarchal culture. The narrator feels that his aunt can’t seem to fathom how heavily she is chained by these standards, always ignoring herself in favor of her family while also ignoring the signs that could have led to change. Nevertheless, she couldn’t hide the regret in her voice, as the second singer woefully sings. Maybe the saddest song on the mini-LP, with jangly, melancholy guitars and a type of singing you often hear in indie emo bands, “Auntie Christine” is a rollercoaster of emotions with a beautiful and very important message.

The last song, “They Say Home Is Where the Heart Is,” is a homage to Brittany and the narrator’s enduring love for its nature, green fields, scenery, and the overall atmosphere and cadence of the region. Without even a tiny bit of stupid patriotism, the singer expresses his feelings toward a place where he always feels at home. We’re sure a lot of us can relate, with some other Brittany out there.

Once again, the jangly guitars do not disappoint, unleashing their chorus-laden wall of sound, so typical of the ’80s indie and post-punk bands that seem to be a big influence on these guys. You can even hear some twee pop in there, or is it just us? The wonderful combination of the two nostalgic voices, mournful guitars, and tight rhythm section makes this neat little album something that should definitely be on your radar this year!

Litovsk are also releasing a split 7-inch EP with Tulle’s post-punk trio Hinin via Bad Health Records, Dans le Vide, Donnez Moi Du Feu, Going Postal Records, Hidden Bay, Medication Time, and Senseless Acts Of Anger. Both bands will be doing a short four-date tour of France. See the poster below for all the dates.