Customer Reviews

Des Visages Des Figures

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a total fan of Noir Desir, and own all of their albums. This CD represents an important growth in their development as musicians, from the Nordic songs of the sea of their earlier era, to the hard, fast and excellent songs from 666.667 Club & Tostaky, to this reflective lyrical and musical masterpiece. I do understand the lyrics, and they are beautiful, simple, and Cantat has a way with words which is quite unique to him. They are comparable to Radiohead in their experimentations with music, and are an 'anti-pop' force that is not only full of good music, but good thoughts, and creative energy as well.

You can also go to AMAZON.FR and buy a double DVD that has 'Comme elle vient' concert footage, and all their videos and interviews.

Europe has a history of producing musicians with causes, philosophies, that go far beyond the surface and that last in the otherwise turbulent world of entertainment - Noir Desir is a perfect example.

After a five-year wait expectations were high for the release of this new album by Noir Desir, definitely the best french rock-band of the last two decades. The songs are great, alternating between haunting poetry - "Bouquet de nerfs" and "Des armes", the search for existential meaning - "A l'envers a l'endroit" and "Lost" and scathing social criticism - "L'Europe" and "Le grand incendie". Special mention about Le grand incendie (the great fire) which predicts destruction raining down on the great cities of the west - in an album published on 9.11.! Another special mention for L'Europe, over 24 minutes in duet with Brigitte Fontaine, at turns dreamy and full of rage, evocative of Jim Morrisson at his best. Another special mention for the colaboration with Manu ChaoThe long wait for this disk was well worth it, the band has matured, the music gotten richer, and Bertrand Cantat's voice got a chance to heal from past abuse. Overall almost 70 minutes of pure listening pleasure, with many thought-provoking moments. Definitely worth buying. Caveat: you need a strong understanding of french to fully plunge the depth of this album.

I am not a particular fan of "hard rock music" so I don't own the earlier albums of Noir Desir but I know many of their songs. Des Visages Des Figures is the second album I own after Club 666.667. When Des Visages Des Figures came along, I was truly happy: music and lyrics eventually were in total harmony, while I still get slightly annoyed by a third of 666.667 songs (I personally think that Cantat's impeccable lyrics in French are poorer when translated literally in English, and he does not sound as good in that language). Des Visages Des Figures is complete and multi-faceted; it has its fair share of introspective ballads (L'Appartement, Bouquet de Nerfs) and politically oriented tunes (A l'Envers a l'Endroit, l'Europe, le Grand Incendie). "Le Vent Nous Portera" is the hit everyone knows and one can't get tired of; it is simply perfect. I heard an American journalist comment on this song on the radio recently and say that even those who don't speak French can tell that it is a beautiful one. I guess it is an ultimate accomplishment when a song speaks beyond the words!
Anyway: this album is a must-have; it will become a French classic within a decade and who wants to know about the real France and its mainstream culture should listen to it. Cantat's voice is unique (Listen to "Des Armes" - a great tribute to Ferre and a great way to introduce him to younger generations - to fully contemplate his vocal potential), and so is his writing.
The 20 or more minute long "l'Europe" is an absolute delirious trip that I - being a European expat - truly appreciate for its sarcasm and sense of reality. There's nothing said in this song that I do not agree with - and yet Cantat and Fontaine are merciless in their objectivity! -, but it seems to revive my affection for my homeland each time I listen to it.
Popular music speaks volumes of a culture, a country and/or an era. Listen to Noir Desir, Zebda, IAM (veteran rap band), or Mickey3D, and many others, and you'll get a more accurate picture of the real "France d'en bas" - actually the only real France - than what may be said on television or in the newspapers...

Well this is a music totally different, you may like it or not Noir Desir remains the best rock band France ever had, even if it remains musically pretty underground and not easy to listen. Ask someone to translate the lyrics if you don't speak french, they are desperate, brilliant ... and since Cantat is in prison after the murder of his wife i doubt you will hear anything from him anytime soon. Once again this is not easy listening stuff, but you have to look for the best american or english bands to find better than this. At least give it a try.

A moving CD about deep love and pain. Cantat's mind was obviously overwhelmed with a mixture of love, grief and sadness when he wrote the lyrics to Des visages, des figures. The songs Le grand incendie, Des armes, and years earlier Homme presse contrasted these feelings in an abstract manner and portray slyly and poetically the inner turmoil between good and evil which all men must face. Kurt Cobain and Sid Vicious'deaths parallel with the unhappy rock star stigma of punk influenced artists which was exacerbated by Cantat's wife's murder in 2004.

This is probably the best French rock album of the past couple of years. Athough ND are hardly a part of the alternative music scene any more, the enthusiasme and honesty that emanates from their music is still unrivalled. This disc offers one huge summer hit ('Le vent nous portera'), but adds some great songs (my favourites being 'Lost' and 'A L'envers à L'endroit'). Contrary to earlier albums, most of this effort is rather timid, focusing attention to the lyrics even more than usual. Although I like this slightly less than the previous 666.667 Club, I still find myself humming and pondering the songs regularly.

first, excuse my english (french guy) :

different from previous albums, but amazing !

if you like it, or want to know more about this french band,
I suggest "Veuillez rendre l'âme (à qui elle appartient)" (2nd album, 1989, maybe the greater, for fans !)and "Tostaky" (3rd, 1992) "666.667 Club" (4th, 1996), more popular but all so good, with great lyrics (either in french or english) !

last: it's not worth if you english or american guys don't understand french lyrics (not because, as I read on other reviews, the music is good nevertheless, but because it's not essential). How about us, french guys, with english/americans bands or singers ?
I can listen to japan or swedish Rock, for instance.
and i don't understand every lyrics of my favorites'american bands (Pavement/Pixies/Sonic Youth/Gun Club/Calla/Yeah Yeah yeahs/Chokebore

enjoy listening !

As an introduction, I'm an American, and haven't had any French since high school. I first heard this band and the track "Le Vent Nous Portera" on an internet radio station, and bought the album. While I'm still puzzling out some of the lyrics, the *music* itself is great, even if you don't speak French, you'll enjoy it. They have a fairly broad range of styles represented, or haven't settled down on one style yet, but it's a solid piece of work. Highly recommend.

This 2001 CD is the culmination of one of the best bands in the world (or recent world, anyway). Unfortunately, this excellent album may have to stand as the band's last will and testament, as their founder and leader is apparently doing time for murder. It really doesn't matter whether one understands the lyrics, which are in French, since the music is so rich and textured--and it's generally impossible to understand the words to most rock music anyway. If you love the adventurous music of King Crimson, or even Dream Theater, you're sure to love this one. And for fans, it'll have to do, at least until singer Bertrand Cantat is freed from prison.

Contrary to other reviews I found this album to be equally as good or better than others by Noir Desir. The album is "softer" than Tostaky or Club 666.667 but it doesn't take away any merit. Songs like L'Appartement and Les Armes are moving and Son Style 1 is rocking. And of course the eerie Le Vent Nous Portera. I have to admit L'Europe is tiring (over 20 minutes) but it is interesting. The song reminds me of Revoultion 9 by the Beatles in its experimenation. An album I've recommended to many of my friends.