Martin Dupont - You Smile When It Hurts

French cold wave cult band whose stark synths and haunting vocals echo Joy Division, later inspiring samplers from Madlib to Tricky.

Martin Dupont, cult icons of France's 1980s new wave, return with You Smile When It Hurts -- their first studio album in over thirty years. Far from being a nostalgic exercise, the record reasserts their daring artistry, merging legacy and rebirth.

Known for melodic minimalism, elegant melancholy, and pulsing electronics, the band has often been compared to Depeche Mode, New Order, or Joy Division, yet their singular identity has always set them apart.

On this new album, they reinvent their sonic language, blending vintage synths with classical textures and luminous modern production. The result is a sensory journey where light and shadow converse, where poetry meets pulse, reaffirming their timeless relevance. Their influence extends across eras: sampled by Madlib, reinterpreted by Tricky, reimagined by Theophilus London, and remixed by DJs such as Marcel Dettmann. Tributes, reissues, and appearances in cinema and fashion underscore their resonance -- from Lucie Borleteau's Chanson douce to catwalks by Chloé.

Born in Marseille in the early 1980s and led by Alain Seghir alongside Catherine Loy, Brigitte Balian, and Beverley Jane Crew, Martin Dupont left a mythic legacy with tracks like Inside Out and Just Because... before dissolving in 1987. Rediscovered through Minimal Wave reissues, their music captivated a new generation of underground and electronic enthusiasts.

Today, Martin Dupont are reborn. Seghir and Crew, joined by Sandy Casado, Thierry Sintoni, and Olivier Leroy, embark on a world tour that affirms their unique ability to move and inspire. You Smile When It Hurts proves that their visionary sound has never been more alive.