Fleur – ‘Jour D’été’ EP review: Sunshine yé-yé pop straight from the 1960s
It has been over six decades – an entire lifetime for some – since the sunshine sounds of French yé-yé pop first commanded the airwaves of mainland Europe, and despite a lasting appetite for its upbeat, endlessly cool pop optimism and occasional moodiness, the timeless style of yé-yé has become something of a rarity as of late. Luckily, though, Fleur is here to right that modern wrong, with the new EP, Jour D’été.
The Skinny: Upon first listening, you could be forgiven for assuming that Jour D’été is an obscure, failed pop record from the mid-1960s that has been rediscovered and reissued by Germany’s Soundflat Records. Everything from its psychedelic-tinged guitar lines to the artwork that adorns the release’s cover evokes that golden age of European pop-rock. In reality, though, Fleur is firmly rooted in the 21st-century, albeit with a natural knack for imbuing her work with the enduring style and universal appeal of 1960s pop.
Hailing from the Netherlands, Fleur has been a constant presence in the Netherlands’ unsuspectingly productive garage pop revival, going back to her first EP release back in 2020.
During that time, of course, her output has developed tenfold, and Jour D’été is certainly her most polished, well-rounded work thus far. Taking her vocal cues from the likes of Françoise Hardy, Fleur seems naturally suited to the retro-styled sounds that she has made her own on this release.
Inevitably, as with virtually every ’60s-centric release in the 21st century, there is a certain degree of novelty about the release. It could be argued, for instance, that the record is simply retreading the same path that countless have trekked before.
By its very definition, the EP is rather derivative of the Disques Vogue output of decades passed, and whether that is seen as a positive or negative attribute likely depends on your own musical principles.
Fleur might not be reinventing the wheel with her yé-yé psych-pop mastery, but neither the quality nor the earworm nature of the release can be disputed. It is easy to pluck out names like Hardy, or France Gall, or even Jacqueline Taïeb, whose work is inarguably being referenced on this release, but it would also be dishonest to suggest that Fleur is entirely devoid of her own distinctive style, which permeates each of the four tracks on this EP.
Standout Track: ‘Jour D’été’
The Verdict: By the very nature of its retro-infused garage pop and yé-yé spirit, Jour D’été is not the most original, nor cutting-edge release of recent times, but if anybody is qualified to resurrect those timeless sounds, then it is Fleur, and this EP is an excellent encapsulation of her time-travelling abilities.
Release Date: June 12th, 2026 | Producer: Arjan Spies | Label: Soundflat Records
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