This set of four recordings, made available earlier in 2004, have found their way round a block or two. Most unexpected and most welcome they are too.
Benoît Sellam, Billy Amzal, Yonathan Ebguy are French "cool wave" artists with some fine tunes done in acoustically interesting ways.
The main song on this maxi-single, "Hélice" gets a studio setting for track one, and a live outing from Prague as track four. The song is strong enough and the performances are distinct enough for this arrangement to be an asset.
The studio version is tumultuous and strong by the end, building in cautious steps from the lightest of Will-Oldham style beginnings. It’s mysterious and dark, with an urgent pulse that implies something that isn’t said. There's a central pause, then a bigger crescendo-building in the second half that brings in some singing guitar chords. These chime over the harmonium-like organ accompaniment that has done most of the dramatic work up to this point.
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"The punishment of the White Rose" has a clumsy rhythm track but compensates with layered vocals and some richer sounding bass and guitar. Lyrics, handily are in English. "L'ebloui" has an alt-countrified feel, albeit with a cool accordion and some great cello. The mood is more in touch with "Hélice" than the more uneven "White Rose".
The Prague performance of "Hélice" confirms that if we get the chance to see ONE FOR JUDE playing down our way, we should get on the bus and get down the front. It is not the greatest technical recording, but the atmosphere is electric. Available from the website.
http://oneforjude.chez.tiscali.fr
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