Noir Désir
Des Visages Des Figures

THE REVIEW

Now I am about to review one of my all-time favorite albums. I already know I won't do it justice because it would require writing page after page about this album, and I'm not a hardcore writer (I admit I'm a bit lazy...). So, I will review this album with as few words but as expressive as possible.
Noir Désir may remind many of you only of the beautiful single Le Vent Nous Portera, a single from a few summers ago that became famous also because there was a character named Manu Chao on the drums.
However, the album offers much more than what one might think from listening to that beautiful single.
It's a superlative concentration of French ethnic rock punk sounds, sadness, and anger towards the political world in general is the theme of the album's lyrics, but leaving the lyrics aside, the music is magnificent.
Staying as concise as I can, I list the most extraordinary songs from the album: L'appartement - Des Visages Des Figures - Des Armes (deeply melancholic) - Le Grand Incendie (if you read the lyrics, it's frightening...)
Lost - Bouquet De Nerfs - L'enfant Roi - the two Son Style (especially the second one). Damn, I better stop, I'm listing them all... instead, I'll mention the last and best of all, unmatched even in its length (over 20 minutes) L'Europe, a magnificent piece that despite its 20 minutes never becomes boring but rather with its frenetic rhythm changes is irresistible!
Well, too bad I can't give more than 5 .... oh well, let's give this 5/5, it deserves more!
Warning: if you have the album or get it, don't judge it on the first listen, it greatly depends on the mood in which you listen to it. I recommend, as with every great album, listening to it calmly in the evening with headphones if possible, without being in a hurry to hear it, it needs to be listened to quietly....