Fluid: that’s how one could describe
the musical odyssey of Frànçois &
the Atlas Mountains (F&AM). Just
take a look at his life journey. Growing
up in Saintes in France on the banks
of the Charente, Frànçois crossed
the English Channel to settle in
the UK in 2003, in the port city of
Bristol. Initially a French teaching
assistant, he gradually drifted into
the independent music scene, which
became an artistic and emotional
laboratory for the young man.
Drawing, animation, music... Every
medium has been explored by this
multi-talented artist with a powerful
creative energy. “You’d show up in
places, grab a guitar, some makeshift
instrument, something you picked
up at a flea market, and you’d create
a kind of arte povera of pop,” the
musician recalls about his Bristol
years. There, he brushed shoulders
with major figures of the freak folk
scene, like Movietone and Panda
Bear, who inspired his DIY approach.
For four years, he produced his own
records before being noticed by the
labels Talitres and Fence in 2008.
Then, in 2011, came Domino. F&AM
became the first French artist to sign
with this iconic label of the British
alternative scene, where he stayed for over 10 years. His style weaves
and reweaves itself across nearly a
dozen records, transcending trends
and genres. When asked to define
it, the artist deflects, claiming not to
set “any limits.” The only consistent
thread through his career is his voice.
Today, he opens a new chapter
with InFiné, whom he met after the
pandemic, a time when the music
scene was at its breaking point.
Frànçois moved to Bordeaux, then
Brussels, eventually settling in the
Landes with its endless beaches.
Âge Fleuve is the latest release from
InFiné and the sixth studio album
from F&AM, this warm and subtle
record stands shoulder to shoulder
with his previous works. It flows
effortlessly, shining both through the
richness of its style and the fluidity
of the arrangements by producer
Siau.
The album was crafted over four
long years, shaped by the pandemic,
during which Frànçois reformed his
band and transitioned between two
labels, starting with Domino before
turning to InFiné. Then the death
of his father upended everything, reigniting the machine of memory,
which he translates in his own way:
“Since I lost my father during the
pandemic, this question of origin has
resurfaced, along with memories.”
Fragility, modesty, delicacy...
Frànçois’ voice evokes illustrious
contemporaries, from Devendra
Banhart to Vincent Gallo, whose
vocal inflections sometimes echo
behind the uniquely French timbre.
Artists like Malik Djoudi with his
captivating pop, in-demand jazzman
Thomas de Pourquery, and British
folk artist Rozi Plain all lend their
talents to Âge Fleuve. These three
delightful collaborations blend
seamlessly into the album’s 10
tracks. But the album’s fluidity is
also felt in the flavor of certain
compositions, like the upbeat “Où
mène la nuit,” a kind of mystical
inquiry into the whirlwinds of youth.
Then there’s “Aïeul inconnu”, whose
apparent melancholy pairs perfectly
with its elegant groove. “Adorer”, the
duet with Thomas de Pourquery,
is an uplifting track that jumps
wholeheartedly into the joy of living
in the “present moment”.
Âge Fleuve—or rather, a “liquid
inspiration”— is built on a heritage
of memory. And when one delves
into the mystery of this heritage,
the answer becomes clear: “We’re
here, under this part of the river,
further downstream. Everything
communicates, everything is in
motion.” In other words, an album
flowing through the river of our
sensory, intimate, and universal
heritage.