Louis Philippe

Melding a variety of influences from melodic '60s pop and rock to jazz, bossa nova, classical, and French chanson, Louis Philippe has built a career both with his own elegant albums and as an arranger and producer for acts ranging from the Clientele to Saint Etienne. The London-based Frenchman earned his cult status in the 1980s recording suave smart pop confections for the él label, subsequently earning a fan base in Japan, where he is often credited with helping launch the Shibuya sound. Philippe's concurrent career as a British sportswriter has allowed him to pursue music purely on his own terms, and he has issued acclaimed sets like 1998's orchestral Azure and the 2007 standout An Unknown Spring. He's also authored two books and released a pair of collaborations with Young Marble Giants' Stuart Moxham. After a 13-year gap between albums, Philippe returned in 2020 with Thunderclouds, featuring backing band the Night Mail. A 2022 anthology curated by Sean O'Hagan celebrated some of his best work, and he resumed his collaboration with the Night Mail on 2025's The Road to the Sea.