Thursday, March 3, 2011

Does Miley Cyrus Have Herpes?

An Evening with Efterklang and Blogothèque

Taking advantage of my
always stay in Paris, after coffee concert dance with Stranded Horse , I went to one of those famous evenings of Blogothèque . The principle was the next appointment in a street in the 9th arrondissement, to arrive with food and drink and attend the screening of Vincent Moon "An Island" in the presence of some members of the group Efterklang.

So after a coffee in the company of quite charming Damien Mingus to My Jazzy Child and Centennial, I'm part clopant limping toward the place of the above-said indie hot date. The place: a kind of former garage / barn converted into what must certainly be an artist studio and workshop handyman and / or small business, brick walls, wooden floor, the place does not lack charm, but a formidable test ahead : This is absolutely not heated and it has to do something like 5 ° outside. Believe me if it was possible to die of the feet, I would have lived this night of love for art among the Parisian air currents.

Afterwards, if you want to know in every detail how it works: the charming hostess checks your name on the list, you give what you want for the coming concert, you clothe for girls in mini skirt and little boots, parka for boys and / or marinara. And there, right away, obviously you first is obvious: YES indie indie boy and girl are totally impervious to outside temperature. Then you sit on the floor in the middle of a good sixty people and you expect the film by Vincent Moon after Chryde, blogothéqueur Chief presented the evening of Rasmus Efterklang said a few kind words in Danish.

Casper the evening by Blogothèque anousonne

The film "An Island ", if I understood everything, was funded in co-production by Vincent Moon Efterklang and we follow step by step, and in music, their Danish island group members Efterklang. They show their inspiration, forests, farms, machinery ... Then lead us to the scene of their childhood and adolescence, see their families ... The film is not unlike what Moon has been done to Blogothèque, camera movement, light, very neat, close-ups on faces and objects, beginning in the forest is not without mention that the film Last Days by Gus Van Sant. Well I can not tell you much more, I am a quiche stuff of cinema, but the applause was spontaneous and many of the film's end.

The surprise of the evening came next with a mini concert pocket given by members of Efterklang . And there I saw what could truly be an evening Blogothèque, ambience at once amused, relaxed, musical, really nice. It must be said that Great Danes are probably also a little something to do, playing into the audience, bringing in the audience among musicians, and asking even a song that the audience interprets a song for them, singing and instruments included. Gradually, we forget the cold, aching feet and discomfort to indulge in this warm, Casper the singer launched into rhythmic improvisations while a girl recites a mouse green bottles of wine and beer flowing in the wings and in the midst of all this, Chryde like a kid in a toy store. And it is only to let the neighbors sleep a bit as the evening ends with a dedication to the nice lady Efterklang that pointed people to the reception.

Then I would be lying if I told you that Efterklang is exactly the kind of music I like, but, that's what you probably recognize the talent, I really finished by letting me take their music, their kindness and the gentle craziness of the evening Blogothèque.


Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Maxi Mounds In Action

Stranded Horse Café de la Danse

advantage of a stay in Paris, I jumped at the chance to see Stranded Horse Café de la Danse in Paris and I'll tell you this experience rich in contrasts and emotions of all kinds.
Just arrived one thing is clear to me: I am in unknown territory. The room is full of bearded men with bats hoody (this is called "hoodie" I'm told), girls working in "gaaaleries charming" and people who spend their vacations in the "small country where people are so endearing. " That said, my first impression somewhat amused and ironic was quickly corrected by the quality of silence for the two concerts in the evening. I do not know if this is the type of audience, artists or place, but contrary to what I have experienced in New Casino here, people really come to listen to music, almost religiously, even.


The first group leaves me still skeptical as I write these lines I do not really know quite what to think. Imagine a trio, not any youngster, the chief singer has fifty years in counter, within sight of a beard. Given this disparate trio, old bearded young Asian and young Flemish instruments based pan, wooden boxes, guitar pot, etc., a whole patchwork that will serve mainly percussion. And when the trio starts singing, there ... We have the right to an ode to Belgium, a small country divided into three parts (like Gaul Caesar's) and whose group Hiccups we will sing the praises town by town with a cat Dinan cake, a march in memory of Waterloo and so on. At one point we went into a soft ball stage wok'n who reprove the macarena, the room being asked to do the little things that go with the booty and wiggle. Does this mean that Hiccups is a bad band? Honestly, I do not know. But then, really. I think here it was not really music but a show, something meant to be seen ignoring the intrinsic musical quality of the thing. To the question, you see them go back, I would answer: no. To the question, music is it ugly, I say no too. At you get by that.


Time to get serious with Stranded Horse alias alias Yann Tambour Ink. Imagine a young man who does not look a good clump of brown hair, jeans and sneakers, very simple. Before him: two kora and guitar and there's even a song at the very beginning where he played the guitar and the kora at the same time. Before coming, I knew the man by name, because of his debut Clapping Music label and his current Talitres which He has just released the album "Tides Humbling. I can honestly say that I feared a little concert, having listened to a song or two but I thought it was pretty good, kora for over an hour, I had my doubts ...

And I was wrong. Besides the fact that Yann Tambour is a very good musician, he created an extraordinary atmosphere of lightness and grace, without any sentimentality. The compositions alternating guitar and kora create true harmony, away from the world music side sauce FM. Horse Stranded, alone or accompanied by Carla Pallone violin leads an audience in awe and silent after him, literally recreating landscapes seashores rainy faces behind the windows and a private life that he abandons his eyes closed, swaying almost, to which he invites us too. It's a pretty darn English blues on guitar that ends this encounter, this is the right word. If you have the opportunity to see him live, my faith, run it over, it is really worth admiring this timid in his works.

If you want to read a very good review of the album Humbling Tides, visit the Blogothèque.
And another report from the same concert on DansLeMurDuSon