there two weeks ago I went to an old chapel converted into a Brussels concert hall to attend the concert by Scout Niblett (which I I spoke last week). Before the superb delivery of Ms Niblett, two other groups were responsible for heating the room. Both French and unknown to my battalion, Lapin Machin and François Virot. Suffice to say that seeing the words "(FR)" beside their name on the flyer for the event I am worried. What was to inflict as punishment made in France before earning the star of the evening? The new French song or a new pastiche of pop / rock with a London accent ridiculous (I'm not targeting anyone)? Should I tell my reasons for being afraid, few French groups have managed to do was not interested these days ... and made me much mercy. And yet, if Lapin Machin are very far from me left a lasting impression (vaguely endearing, vaguely evil), François Virot me greatly impressed him.
Alone on stage with his guitar, sitting on a chair, if he manages to please at least interesting for everyone. Capture the attention of hundreds of strangers who came mostly to see another concert, just sitting on a chair to play the songs of his own, never say a word is the feat. Yet I think that few people took advantage of his concert to go outside to smoke a cigarette (even though I was not there to check). Only me, he did more than interested. Describing his music is not something obvious. If lazy journalists had him stick a big label on the front, I think they would make the cousin of the red white and blue freak-folk movement which Denvendra Banhart and Cocorosie are the heads of prows. I dread to see his album already out with a big sticker "The French Devendra Banhart!-Telerama" on the cover. This categorization would be really off base.
His deconstructed but melodic songs, carried by a nasal voice rarely "just" pushing more than one. But it works extremely well. A title like "My Head is Blank" could very well have been included on the Sung Tongs Animal Collective. Like them he manages to mix the main ingredients and the structure of a pop song with a healthy dose of eccentricity. The comparison stops there, because by listening and seeing more importantly, it sends an emotion that I can not find in Animal Collective: pain. The birth of his songs and their public regurgitation seem to be extremely painful process. His face twists in every direction, his eyes close, his voice shaky. This can even put uncomfortable. You feel like torturers to force the boy to sing for us as it makes him visibly ill. Then, between songs, half smile and looks stealth to the public. We are reassured.
He released his first album in the fall on the label clapping music hopefully. Meanwhile several songs are as usual listening and even downloadable for once on his myspace for 5 € and you can order a house CD-R (I wait with impatience mine!). François Virot has also created a second account on myspace which he repeatedly put only from Elliott Smith to Jay-Z. The worst is that it succeeded.
Alone on stage with his guitar, sitting on a chair, if he manages to please at least interesting for everyone. Capture the attention of hundreds of strangers who came mostly to see another concert, just sitting on a chair to play the songs of his own, never say a word is the feat. Yet I think that few people took advantage of his concert to go outside to smoke a cigarette (even though I was not there to check). Only me, he did more than interested. Describing his music is not something obvious. If lazy journalists had him stick a big label on the front, I think they would make the cousin of the red white and blue freak-folk movement which Denvendra Banhart and Cocorosie are the heads of prows. I dread to see his album already out with a big sticker "The French Devendra Banhart!-Telerama" on the cover. This categorization would be really off base.
His deconstructed but melodic songs, carried by a nasal voice rarely "just" pushing more than one. But it works extremely well. A title like "My Head is Blank" could very well have been included on the Sung Tongs Animal Collective. Like them he manages to mix the main ingredients and the structure of a pop song with a healthy dose of eccentricity. The comparison stops there, because by listening and seeing more importantly, it sends an emotion that I can not find in Animal Collective: pain. The birth of his songs and their public regurgitation seem to be extremely painful process. His face twists in every direction, his eyes close, his voice shaky. This can even put uncomfortable. You feel like torturers to force the boy to sing for us as it makes him visibly ill. Then, between songs, half smile and looks stealth to the public. We are reassured.
He released his first album in the fall on the label clapping music hopefully. Meanwhile several songs are as usual listening and even downloadable for once on his myspace for 5 € and you can order a house CD-R (I wait with impatience mine!). François Virot has also created a second account on myspace which he repeatedly put only from Elliott Smith to Jay-Z. The worst is that it succeeded.
François Virot - My Head is Blank
François Virot - Say Fiesta
François Virot - Between The Bars (Elliott Smith Cover)
MySpace Normal - Myspace special occasions
between ourselves ... Music reviews, artist presentations and notes of humor 
