Warming up for their sold out show at The Motorcycle Showroom, François and The Atlas Mountains treated the faithful at Rise Music to a stripped-down, early evening performance at the Queen’s Road record shop.
Honoree Bristolian François and his colourful collection of band mates (sporting some charming knitwear) executed a glorious acoustic taster of their bi-lingual indie. They created a cosy atmosphere when the Gallic tones of François invited the audience to sit on the wooden floor and gather around the band; all that was missing was a drop in the lighting and a drop of wine.
With their first album on Domino, E Volo Love freshly released and a string of shows planned, this acoustic set had a warm, homecoming vibe as one-time resident of the city and bandleader François Marry smiled and acknowledged familiar faces in the audience.
In just twenty minutes or so we are all truly treated to sublime live performances of some quite remarkable songs. Piscine, Edge of Town and Les Plus Beaux shimmer with three-fold percussion and sizzling high-end harmonies.
Switching effortlessly between languages adds to the intrigue; the French-sung pieces seem to pack more punch, whether this is because the artists are more comfortable in their mother tongue or that my listening isn't blinkered by following the words.
Switching effortlessly between languages adds to the intrigue; the French-sung pieces seem to pack more punch, whether this is because the artists are more comfortable in their mother tongue or that my listening isn't blinkered by following the words.
So good in fact is the dreamy, romanticism of the songs and pitch-perfect delivery, one can’t help but think that Dominos’ first French signings have somehow missed a trick in the making of their latest album. I feel that a little magic has been lost somewhere from when these natural gems, that fall the right side of twee that we heard tonight made it onto the processed, electric studio album. That said the argument is rooted in the excellence of the live performance rather than the shortcomings of the LP.
Underpinned by some African-infused rhythms courtesy of Amaury Ranger, perched on the ledge of the window this brief show, like the album, appears to be ultra casual, yet it is shows musical intricacies and expressive creation in great control and measure.
An array of school percussion is deployed at various stages, reminding the audience that our primary years were perhaps the last we had sat cross-legged on a varnished wooden floor! Though this wasn’t a boring assembly, but more a captivating story time; a magical music lesson with our favourite French teacher…..
