New Music: François Virot – Yes or No
posted ~ November 23rd, 2009. Filed under: Music Reviews.
Whoever gave me this album, own up. You deserve some credit. François Virot’s Yes or No must’ve been sitting in my “to be listened to” queue for the last 4 months at least, before one of his infectious tracks forced it’s way into random play, and then into my consciousness. I have no doubt that this record was awarded to me in a huge music swap at some point in time and never given proper attention. Well today, I’m here to declare, that this stuff is mesmerizing.
Mr. Virot is a french songwriter who has the vocal inflection of Avey Tare circa Pullhair Rubeye, only if Avey had a good voice and could actually carry a tune. Virot’s instrument of choice is acoustic guitar often backed by hand claps, snaps, vocal ticks and other forms of bodily percussion. Other than that it’s his enchanting wail that leaps all over the melodic spectrum grabbing listeners perched on all levels of any given auditory wavelength. His songs are sweet but abrasive, catchy but foreign (not just cause he’s french). Try him.
After doing a bit of research into the world of François Virot I came across a lovely, startling coincidence. On his myspace he has a direct link to the page of amazing french 8-bit-synth-garage-pop band Clara Clara. This grabbed my attention because Clara Clara had a track represented on this year’s Friends and Friends of Friends compilation, organized by me and put out by Portland’s Tender Loving Empire. The song rules. Clara Clara rules. So it turns out that Mr. Virot plays drums in Clara Clara and is sibling to one of the other members. Fancy that. Virot’s rule. Clara Clara will also appear on a split with Kickball due out next spring on TLE.
François Virot – Cascade Kisses
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November 23rd, 2009 at 10:15 pm
it miiiiiight have been me.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:53 am
I’m diggin this
November 26th, 2009 at 2:43 am
yo, i’m almost positive it was. thanks man. Actually, most of my recent discoveries have been somehow affiliated with you. Keep it up. And you should check out Clara Clara as well..
December 9th, 2009 at 8:38 am
have you heard the xx? they’ve probably been somewhere on your radar for a while, but i just heard about them on npr the other day. well anyway, gotta go watch a webinar…
December 10th, 2009 at 3:42 am
Hah, yeah i’ve been reading about them but haven’t given em a listen quite yet. funny, my dad just recommended them to me as well.. he was listening to the same npr program.