The French (band)

The French are a British Electronic band, formed by Darren Hayman and John Morrison after the band Hefner declared an indefinite hiatus.[1][2][3] The pair continued to use vintage drum machines and synthesizers, a choice that was present on Hefner's last recordings.[2][4][5]

The French released one album, Local Information, on Too Pure in 2003,[6][7] which received a five star review in The Guardian,[8] and saw two songs, "Porn Shoes" and "Gabriel in the Airport," appear in the John Peel BBC Radio 1 Festive Fifty at #27 and #36 respectively. The band also recorded two Maida Vale sessions between 2003 and 2004[9] After which Hayman was involved in a legal dispute with Too Pure before launching his solo career.[10]

Hayman has stated that he "spunked his career up the wall spectacularly" by following Hefner with The French,[11] adding in 2026 that "when I make an electronic record, I have to expect a smaller reaction."[5] Hayman considers it one of his best albums.[10]

In 2011, Allo Darlin' covered the song "The Wu-Tang Clan," and released it on the Darren EP, which featured a song about Hayman.[12][13][14]

In 2018, Electronic Sound Magazine featured Local Information as a "Buried Treasure," stating "All Darren Hayman’s albums are good, but in my view, there’s none better than Local Information."[15]

Like Hefner, the French are now on an indefinite hiatus, but in an interview for The J-Card Podcast on 21 May 2026, Hayman suggested unreleased material by The French could be released before the end of the year.[16][17]

Discography

Albums

Singles and EPs

  • "Dagenham EP" (2003, Too Pure)
  • "Porn Shoes / Gabriel in the Airport" (2003, Too Pure)

Compilation Appearances

  • Vital Music - Chain With No Name (2003, Vital) – contributes "Porn Shoes"
  • Too Pure Records 2003/2004 (2004, Too Pure) – contributes "Porn Shoes" and "Gabriel in the Airport"
  • Songs to Break God's Heart (2005, Acuarela Discos) – contributes "Watery For..."
  • snö (2023, Where It's at Is Where You Are) – contributes "Snaa"

References

  1. ↑ Kenyon Hopkin. "The French biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  2. 1 2 Jim Ledbetter (August 2003). "Vive the French!". Time Magazine. Time Inc. Archived from the original on 20 January 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  3. ↑ "The French: Digital EP From Ex-Hefner Boyos!". DrownedInSound. 15 September 2003. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  4. ↑ Writer, Guest (12 June 2026). "The Making of 'The Violence'": An Essay by Darren Hayman". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  5. 1 2 O'Sullivan, Eimear. "Darren Hayman on Creativity, Songwriting and His Favourite Second-Hand Synths". musicngear.com. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  6. ↑ "The French 'Local Information' (Too Pure, 2003) – Electronic Sound". Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  7. ↑ Peschek, David (8 August 2003). "The French: Local Information". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  8. ↑ Peschek, David (8 August 2003). "The French: Local Information". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - French". BBC. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  10. 1 2 Moores, J. R. "Forgotten Songs: The French's "The Wu-Tang Clan"". Under the Radar Magazine. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  11. ↑ Mules, Adrian (2 September 2009). "Darren Hayman interview". The Digital Fix. Archived from the original on 23 December 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  12. ↑ November 2010, Words: Simone Scott Warren 18th (18 November 2010). "Allo Darlin', Cargo, London". DIY. Retrieved 24 June 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ ".: chromewaves.net v7.5 » Blog Archive » NYC Popfest with Allo Darlin', The Ladybug Transistor, The Wave Pictures, and White Town at Littlefield in Brooklyn". Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  14. ↑ Lefort (11 November 2012). "After Hurricane Sandy–Listen to Allo Darlin' Cover the Touching "Wu-Tang Clan" and Watch Aftermath Videos | The Lefort Report". thelefortreport.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "The French 'Local Information' (Too Pure, 2003) – Electronic Sound". Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  16. ↑ Rue Defense (21 May 2026). Six Songs That Were Lost (Until Now) w/ Darren Hayman | The J-Card Podcast. Retrieved 22 May 2026 – via YouTube.
  17. ↑ "PODCAST: In The Spotlight: Darren Hayman - God Is in the TV". 9 June 2026. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
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