PARIS COMBO

New release

11/05/1999 - 

Just back from a triumphant North-American tour - whose New York chapter was recounted in this very column by Bob Tweedie - the 5 members of Paris Combo take it one step further with their new album "Living Room", which is following in the footsteps of its predecessor - the group's eponymous album.

Formed four years ago, the group Paris Combo confirms the artistic revival and the qualitative progress of the French musical scene. Following the example of Daft Punk, Air, Autour de Lucie, and the Nubians, the clever team has managed these past few months, to elude the American public's chronic indifference to French music. From March 8-28, their tour covered nine large American and Canadian cities (New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, Washington, Ottowa, Thibodeaux, New Orleans, and Lafayette), in 250-500-seat halls. At the same time aided by good press coverage, their first album "Paris Combo" (released in France in Spring 1997 by Boucherie Productions and licensed in the US by Tinder Records), reached the 20.000 mark of records sold in the land of Uncle Sam.

With "Living Room" the charm prevails. Obviously, by renewing the seductive recipe of the first album, the risk taken was minimal but the result is worth it. Recorded and mixed in Acousti Studios between January and February, the twelve pieces of this opus, full of swing, juggles with ease between jazzy influences, world music ( a dab of Latinity and a hint of Orientalism ) and the best of "Parisian" music. Lover of cabaret, blues and Rumanian folklore Benedicte the Brunette, alias Belle du Berry, stands out without wanting to, as the symbol of this acoustic quintet. Her wily and entertaining voice mixes perfectly with the lively tempo throughout the album, and makes the best of its lyrics, which poetises the simplicity of daily life ("Je suis sourde", "Terrien d'eau douce", " Pas à pas "…), as Helno the late singer of the Négresses Vertes knew how to do. In the background the four musicians, all men, (Potzi: guitar; David Lewis: trumpet, Bugle, piano, and melodica; Mano Razanajato: Bass, nylon guitar; Francois-Francois: drums, percussion and chorus) put all of their expertise at the service of their Belle.

Those who would like to convince themselves of the urgency to acquire this excellent piece of work can listen to all of the tracks from the cosy and warm "Living Room" album, in streaming in the formats MP3-shoutcast, Real Audio and Liquid Audio on the group's official website (www.netbeat.com/pariscombo). On stage, Paris will open its arms to them again for one (or several) concerts at La Maroquinerie. But Paris Combo can only rely on its own forces to become prophets in their country. In France, the world of independent labels, to which they belong isn't as solid and fruitful as in Great Britain, where its media access is great. Like Louise Attaque, Matmatah, Tryo and many others, the stage will be their grandstand. The tour that they have set out upon therefore seems full of promise. Will it lead them beyond a gold record?

Gilles Rio

"Living Room" (Boucherie Productions/PIAS)