Faïence is the meeting of two musicians with rich backgrounds, Médéric Gontier and Julien Bouchard. These two already knew each other through the work of the other for which they had the greatest respect. But it took a real meeting for a true friendship and a musical project to be formed that is now taking shape with this first EP.
This meeting was years ago, in Liège, Belgium during a concert by Tahiti 80, a band in which Médéric from Rouen is the guitar player. Julien Bouchard came from the Vosges to play as the support act, with his own songs still English-speaking but already signed, like the Normans, on the Belgian label Hot Puma Records. Inevitably, they immediately clicked, finding themselves on a lot of points, like their immoderate love for the indie pop of the 90s and its emblematic bands like Teenage Fan Club or legendary artists like the singer Christophe. Solid foundations to build more than a friendly relationship: a band. In French, of course, the one that Med has always been about, the one to which Julien Bouchard has finally came in.
Each one traces one's path with a very different writing style but releases records that have often been spotted by the same fans of slightly noisy melodies.
The common musical references worked like magic to give birth to five first songs with sometimes very rock influences but terribly "effective" because they are simply pop above all. Each bringing a track, consolidating the work of the other with his own touch, this first EP is a gentle confrontation of sensibilities and styles, made, as they both say, with an ease and a pleasant fluidity, which can be heard.
Random human relationships or unfinished experiences came to inspire the lyrics that came to life, musically speaking, in Julien's home studio in Epinal and that of Hadrien Grange (also a member of Tahiti 80, but also of the Klub des Loosers). And Hadrien also mixed the EP.
This first EP borrows its name from a first catchy single, entitled J'ai tendance. Julien's nonchalant singing or Med's more incisive diction repeat over and over how in all circumstances they have a "tendency to get lost", but if you like the golden age of the 90s, the power rock singles of Blur or the Dandy Warhols, you can quickly find your way around! Or rather we "get lost" again in this immediate title that quickly calls for the replay button...
If we resist the urge and let the EP reveal its second track, Suis moi then guides us on a slightly more classic song format with a detached chorus. Alternating major and minor chords while Med's voice blows hot and cold in a kind of smiling spleen that often makes its mark, the title lets a few guitars flow, until the finale and its Dinosaur Jr solo typical of Julien's sound.
Then Dents longues tries a pop but energetic chorus, like a slightly sweeter and French-speaking Franck Black. "Tu oublieras qui j’étais", but the chorus will stay in your head...
More shoegaze, haunting, De fou flirts with the extremities of "chanson française" and English rock, with words that we are not used to hearing in this uninhibited French language, pop finally, and in this setting where the richness of the arrangements does not prevent the energy.
With its title still borrowed from a French language that forbids itself nothing, Askip comes to conclude this musical business card with a demo version. As if to announce the future, as if to pay homage also to the bands of the 90s and consorts, a eye blink to the old singles of Teenage Fanclub for example.
A little Faïence in the ears when you are not in one's element, and you'll feel good.
