Black Desire

Ok then, after over a week of non-postingness for various reasons, I'm back! Hooray! For my triumphant return, I introduce to you aguably the best French rock band, ever. No Joke, these guys have consistantly battered anything trying to emulate them. Although Bertrand Cantat (lead singer) is in prison for manslaughter, the other band members are still around and contractually still have to release an album, which they're thinking of doing when Cantat has finished his sentence. I was unable to find the track they are working on now, which is for a French film called "Enferme dehors", not actually out yet.

Cantat is now in prison in France, although he committed the manslaughter (and was convicted) in Lithuania. He killed his then girlfriend under the influence of cocaine during an argument.

Anyway, he certainly helped get the French rock scene going, and he famously worked with the Tetes Raides. So what's all the fuss about? Well, he's got the usual anti-globalisation, rebel approach everyone loves so much. He famously said to the director of his record label: "You and I might live on the same planet, but we are from different worlds". He might not have invented it, but it stuck and he was seen as a legend ever since. One of his most famous songs on the subject is "L'Homme Presse", in which he describes the hectic lifestyle as a star, and how others (especially the media) are constantly trying to milk as much money as they can out of him. Simple yet effective, I like it. It's raw, and it doesn't try to be clever when it doesn't need to be. Great stuff.

Noir Desir - L'Homme Presse

Noir Desir are famously anti-fascist and during the last elections refused to play in Alsace because it had the highest percentage of National Front voters. Typically, that's where I used to live, so no "Noir Dez" for me. The next song, "Un Jour en France", was written against fascism and whilst it obviously won't have had any influence on voting patterns, it is an attack on people's impression that everything is well in France. It is classic Noir Desir and therefore cannot be ignored, and although it isn't the best Noir Desir there is, it's very good nontheless.

Noir Desir - Un Jour En France

As well as being politically motivated, Noir Desir also write nice music to listen to where the lyrics aren't the most important thing. A couple of years ago they went all out and collaborated with Manu Chao, who some out there might have heard of as a classic French/Spanish/English language singer of catchy little numbers. "Le Vent Nous portera" (yes, there does seem to be a theme of wind taking things away - see Louise Attaque) was a massive hit in the charts as well as usual Noir Desir fans, and there isn't much to say apart from the fact that it is much calmer than the other tracks mentioned so far. There'll be more Manu Chao some other day, so if you like the gentle guitar strumming in the background, there's plenty more where that came from!

Noir Desir - Le Vent nous portera

Lastly, here comes "Des Armes". This song was written as a protest against firearms around the world and how they are used as a tool to kill (as they would be) people. Th lyrics talk about the people who own and love their weapons, and not about the manufacturers, and he goes into the way people derive pleasure from owning them.

Noir Desir - Des Armes

So that's all for today, but I'll become more regular in my approach soon, I promise! I've been a bit on the busy side lately!

Oh by the way, check out radioblog - type the name of pretty much any band in the world in there and you can listen to it streamed. It's great! And if you missed any artists you're interested in, they are there too.