Frànçois & the Atlas Mountains

Frànçois & the Atlas Mountains are a French-British pop group, combining indie pop, folk pop and African rhythms.

Frànçois & the Atlas Mountains
Frànçois & the Atlas Mountains performing in 2014
Background information
OriginBristol, England
GenresIndie pop, indie folk, afrobeat
Years active2005 (2005)–present
LabelsFence, Domino, Talitres
Associated actsCamera Obscura, Babe, Petit Fantôme, Archipel, Jaune!
Websitefrancoisandtheatlasmountains.com

History

The band is led by Brussels-based French musician François Marry, who has also been a touring member of Camera Obscura. Other members also play in Petit Fantôme, Jaune!, Archipel and Babe.[1] After growing up in Saintes, and studying at La Rochelle, Marry relocated to Bristol in 2003. He lived in the city for six years.[2][3]

The band's first album was the mostly live The People to Forget, released in 2006 on Bristol's micro label Stitch-Stitch.

The band's second album, Plaine Inondable, was released in 2009 on Fence Records in the UK and on Talitres in France to critical acclaim, receiving a four star review from The Scotsman.[4]

The band's third album, E Volo Love, was released in 2012, and was also positively received, with The Skinny writer Chris Buckle giving it four stars out of five and describing it as "unabashedly romantic...a study in understatement delivered with finesse", and Simon Price in The Independent describing it as "gentle indie-pop jangle with echoes of Afropop".[5][6] The album received a 7/10 rating from the NME.[7]

Marry has also released several lo-fi tapes and records.

Musical style

The band's music incorporates French and English lyrics with African rhythms, with Malian rhythms and highlife identified by reviewers. One of the band's main influences comes from Marry's upbringing - his mother was raised in Cameroon.[8][9][10][11] Marry's vocals have been described as "appealingly weedy", with a comparison made to Peter Perrett.[6]

Discography

Albums
  • The People To Forget (2006), Stitch-Stitch
  • Plaine Inondable (2009), Fence/Talitres
  • E Volo Love (2012), Domino
  • Piano Ombre (2014), Domino
  • Solide Mirage (2017), Domino
  • Fleurs du Mal (2018), Seline

EPs
  • Brother (2007), Lejos Discos
  • Her River Raves Recollections (2009), Stitch-Stitch
  • "L'Homme Tranquille" (2015), Domino

Singles
  • "Piscine" (2011), Domino
  • "Les Plus Beaux" (2012), Domino
  • "Gold Mountain" (2012), Domino – split single with Slow Club, released for Record Store Day
  • "Edge of Town" (2012), Domino

Frànçois solo/other releases

Albums
  • Frànçois et Luc – Quatre Pistes (2003), CD-R, split with Luc
  • Les Anciennes Falaises (2004), Stitch-Stitch (CD-R)
  • Sleeping states/Frànçois (2006), Undereducated – split cassette
  • The Autoroute tapes (2004), Stitch-Stitch – cassette, limited to 20 copies
  • The Nympheas tapes (2015), Iwillplaythissongonceagain – cassette, limited to 7 copies
  • Oblique Imàge (2017), Another Record – cassette, limited to 150 copies

EPs
  • Forests Songs (2006), Stitch-Stitch – split with Ray Rumours

Singles
  • "Swimmers, Drifters" (2008), Too Pure Singles Club – split with Ray Rumours
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References
  1. Brown, Ally (2012) "Fence Records Presents... The Away Game 2012, Isle of Eigg, 20–22 July", The Skinny, 25 July 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012
  2. Richard, Robert (2009) "Frànçois & The Atlas Mountains – Plaine inondable", Les Inrockuptibles, 25 September 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2012
  3. Médioni, Gilles (2011) "La pop minimaliste de Frànçois and the Atlas Mountains", L'Express, 20 April 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2012
  4. "Plaine Inondable Review", The Scotsman, 6 December 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2012
  5. Buckle, Chris (2012) "Francois & The Atlas Mountains – E Volo Love", The Skinny, 5 January 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012
  6. Price, Simon (2012) "Album: Frànçois and the Atlas Mountains, E Volo Love (Domino)", The Independent, 22 January 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012
  7. Snapes, Laura (2012) "Francois And The Atlas Mountains – 'E Volo Love'", NME, 20 January 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012
  8. Bordier, Julien (2017) "Frànçois & the Atlas Mountains: "Il faut sortir de sa bulle"", L'Express, 22 March 2017
  9. Murray, Robin (2012) "Frànçois & the Atlas Mountains October Shows", Clash, 12 June 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012
  10. Nuc, Olivier (2012) "Frànçois & The Atlas Mountain au Café de la danse", Le Figaro, 6 February 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012
  11. Capper, Andy (2012) "This week's new singles", The Guardian, 21 January 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012
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