I just fell in love with Francois Virot. His stripped down folk pop has a special vocal effect that gets me deep inside. Virot, out of Lyons, France, is becoming a favorite abroad and it’s not hard to tell why. Yes or No may be his first official release, but the fully conceived ideas within the album, achieved with no superfluous additions, are that of a sage. Virot fills out each of the tracks on his own, making it truly hard to believe that this music is made by just one. The bare instrumentation on Yes or No, one guitar, sometimes two, one voice, sometimes two or three, plus handclaps, finger taps, and bits and pieces of percussion, sound like a symphony in my ears. What is created is music that is entirely so much more than what one expects to hear from a “singer-songwriter”. The songs seep with emotion, releasing beautifully suppressed anger, all the while overflowing with generosity and Virot’s open heart. His strum is hard, but the essence is soft, and the melodies soar. You don’t think of a guitarist with a guitar but instead, whatever Virot wants you to imagine.
Not surprisingly, Virot has been chosen over and over to be a part of Blogotheque’s Take A Way Shows. The shorts feature musicians performing in unusual environments, offering an intimate look at the artist. Take the time to get into the one below…
I first started listening to Phoenix back in 2004 when I found the band’s 2nd album, Alphabetical, on a listening station in Bart’s CD Cellar in Boulder. Immediately upon placing the headphones over my ears, I was wrapped up in tight pop grooves, smooth vocals, and sparkling sonic effects.
The band is curiously original despite the fact that their earlier albums inspire comparisons to Maroon 5. I momentarily forgot about the band, but noticed they were on tour this year with a new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Went to the sold out show at the Bluebird (Denver, CO) blind, and was pleasantly shocked with where they’d taken the music – expanded direction into danceable, catching indie rock, filled with heavy keys and sound effects all laying on the foundation already built. Hooked again.
Based in Paris, Phoenix took off in Europe in 1999 when Air asked the group to be their backing band on several U.K. performances. The band broke in the U.S. on Saturday Night Live this past April, just before releasing their 4th studio album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009). After signing Phoenix in March, Daniel Glass of Glassnote Records released one of the new tracks to build up interest in the record and to increase the demand for live performances. According to Glass, that’s what inspired rampant talk about the band on blogs and the call from Saturday Night Live. Since then, Phoenix has played sold out clubs across the U.S., with appearances at Bonnaroo and on Letterman. This fall’s schedule includes the Greek Theatre (L.A.), The Warfield (S.F.), Monolith Festival (CO), and Austin City Limits.
I’ll leave you with two tracks and a video. “If I Ever Feel Better” is one of the first singles released back in 2000. Next is “Lisztomania” from Wolfgang Amadeus. The must watch is the video of “1901″ from SNL in April.
Lisztomania
So sentimental
Not sentimental no!
Romantic not disgusting yet
Darling i’m down and lonely
When with the fortunate only
I’ve been looking for something else
Do let do let do let jugulate do let do let do
Let’s go slowly, discouraged,
Distant from other interests
On your favorite weekend ending
This love’s for gentlemen only
That’s with the fortunate only
No i gotta be someone else
These days it comes it comes it comes it comes it comes and goes
Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot, like a riot, oh!
I’m not easily offended
It’s not hard to let it go
From a mess to the masses
Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot, like a riot, oh!
I’m not easily offended
It’s not hard to let it go
From a mess to the masses
Follow, misguide, stand still
Disgust, discourage
On this precious weekend ending
This love’s for gentlemen only
Wealthiest gentlemen only
And now that you’re lonely
Do let do let do let jugulate do let do let do
Let’s go slowly, discouraged,
We’ll burn the pictures instead
When it’s all over we can barely discuss
For one minute only
Not with the fortunate only
Thought it could have been something else
These days it comes it comes it comes it comes it comes and goes
Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot, like a riot, oh!
I’m not easily offended
It’s not hard to let it go
From a mess to the masses
Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot, like a riot, oh!
I’m not easily offended
It’s not hard to let it go
From a mess to the masses
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