Transe de Papier

Welcome to a world of poetry nourished by multiple musical influences from various remote corners of the planet. The latest album from Lo’Jo soothes and regenerates as a therapeutic elixir in this somewhat distressing period for everyone. Also very recently, after well over three decades together in an open rural community, the French group faced adversity when they had to leave their farmhouse in the western region of Anjou. Reflecting on this event, their new opus brings a more introspective mood with interlacing sensations and emotions.

The 12 songs are enriched by sounds and fragments of vernacular languages, all collected through the group’s extensive travelling. One can perceive Touareg influences on ‘Permettez Majesté’, Congolese on ‘Bal la Poussière’, Mandinka on ‘Minuscule’. Words flow, carried by the luminous intonations of Nadia and Yamina Nid El Mourid, offering contrast to the husky voice of singer-songwriter and pianist Denis Péan. As always, violinist Richard Bourrea provides the exquisite arrangement The Nid El Mourid sisters, together with bassist Alex Cochennec, generate the groove using percussio alongside a Malian kamalengoni. Producer Justin Adams and synth pop Underworld frontman, Karl Hyde, add a subtle sonic touch. The icing on the cake is a reading in French of a short text by the great Robert Wyatt and mesmerising drumming on two tracks by the sorely missed Tony Allen.