Biography:

Ever since he started recording early demos as an architecture student in 1993 in Newcastle up to the release of his new album, As Found, the path of Mehdi Zannad - aka FUGU - has been full of happy encounters.

After the first concerts triggered enthusiastic reactions in England, FUGU’s first-ever release naturally sprang from meeting Stereolab in London. And then offering Mehdi to share a split single which will later be unanimously praised by British and international press. Things accelerated in 1998 after John Peel on Radio 1 played a new single (“F31” featured on “As Found” under the title “She’s coming over”). It was then St-Etienne’s who asked him to remix one of their songs. Actually, it’s the global pop family that took FUGU under its wing: his first album “Fugu 1” recorded in 2001 got released by For US (Rough Trade shop’s label) in the UK and Minty Fresh in the US. He then went on a world tour with Stereolab.

With this new album Fugu directly reaches for the essence of pop music : vast and direct songs about love (« You pick me up » and « Here today » or the more melancholic “Straight from the heart”) and everyday’s beauty (“Parking lots” or “Blackwall”). Instead of fighting off his musical influences, from California’s sunshine music to Raspberries’ power pop and Big Star’s urban lyrism, he embraces them and demonstrates with style how to promote originality without needless obscurity. With its clear and catchy melodies FUGU’s music is instantly addictive while the deep and inventive arrangements make you forget their complexity.

Mehdi Zannad recorded As found with the help of Tahiti 80’s Xavier Boyer and Pedro Resende, who co-produced the album, and Simon Johns from Stereolab. The album was mixed by Tony Lash whose past collaborations include Cardinal, Elliot Smith, The Dandy Warhols among others. The artwork, courtesy of acclaimed English graphic designer Julian House (Broadcast, Stereolab) is, like the title “As found”, a direct reference to the “Independent Group” and the theory of the British architects Peter and Alison Smithson.

In June 2005, Fugu supported Tahiti 80 on their Japan Tour and was invited to the Mo’Fo’ Festival in Paris. To support the Japan release (on JVC), where he has already reached # 59 on J-Wave (Tokyo’s biggest FM radio), he will perform a series of concert in Tokyo February and April. He will also play on February 10th 2006 at the By Larm Festival in Tromso, Norway. With Le Monde (Biggest French daily newspaper) recently quoting Fugu as part of the new pop “French Touch” and Les Inrockuptibles (leading independent magazine) claiming that “As Found confirms FUGU’s immense talent”, FUGU’s recognition is definitely there.

« I’m in love, I’m in love, I’m in love, here today » sings Fugu on « Here Today », the first single of the album. Everything is said : fall in love at once. In those selfish times, Fugu is a friend who wants you good.

Fugu As Found SSCD 510

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