Feuilles Fauves

The five members of French collective Lo’Jo celebrate over four decades of camaraderie exploring poetry, music and cabaret drawn from their countless travels. Feuilles Fauves, this latest and 18th album proves their inspiration and creativity has never waned. It is still as bright and free as ever. Titles are divided between Caribbean and South American influences for dancing, ‘Valse Étrange’, ‘Joséphine’, and the French chanson spirit, ‘La Kolèr’, ‘Viens’, ‘Peu de Choses’ (without doubt the masterpiece of the album). They are constantly supported by a rich sound texture where reverberations blend with a lavish rhythmic carpet. Discreet electronics mingle with instruments including Malian kamalengoni, Touareg imzad and René Lacaille’s soothing accordion. The clear vocal polyphony of the Nid el Mourid sisters mix for our enchantment with the deep voices of Denis Péan and special guest Jupiter Bokondji from Kinshasa. Péan has written ingenious lyrics, sometimes even creating his own words. He is an eminent Francophone poet and the soul of Lo’Jo.