Amor Belhom Duo is composed of Naïm Amor on lead
vocals, guitars, samplers and violin, along with drummer
and vibraphonist Thomas Belhom. Frequent collaborator Sean
Rogers contributes on upright bass. Marianne Dissard, documentary
filmmaker and la femme fatale on Calexico's "Ballad
of Cable Hogue" hit single, contributes lyrics in French
and English.
Naïm Amor and Thomas Belhom made a fateful decision
in 1997 to relocate to Tucson. They immediately found fertile
ground there for their "avant-French pop", and
like minds for collaboration in Joey Burns and John Convertino
of Calexico, with whom they has performed, composed, and
recorded.
The result is a sophisticated combination of pop,
lounge, experimental jazz, inspired percussion and burnished
guitar
work intermixed with a diversity of underlying prerecorded
aural images. They contrive an original sound that's stylish,
emotive and musically compelling.
Songs open up into the realm of finely arranged improvisations
(sometimes leaning toward "ambient") where sonic
investigations are never an end in themselves. The idea behind
their musical trajectory is to have a collection of songs
as "anchors" and to travel from one to the other
through improvisation. Throughout their concerts, guitar
and drums offer an uninterrupted dialogue weaving songs and
improvisations.
Before forming their avant garde pop duo,
Naïm and Thomas belonged to bands ranging in style from
early hardcore (Witches Valley) to experimental musical and
theatrical political avant-garde (from 1992 to 1997, in Génération
Chaos, performing experimental music with contemporary music
percussionist/composer Jean-Charles François - director
of UCSD music school from 1972 to 1986 - and stage director
Marc O').
In 98, the duo recorded its first full-length
album, "Wavelab performance".
The 11 tracks album features guest performers Joey Burns
and John Convertino (Calexico), whom Naïm and Thomas
have later backed up on stage.
Between 1995 and 1999, Naïm and Thomas with Calexico
the collaboration album "Tête à tête".
Still in 1999, back
from their first american tour
, Amor Belhom Duo started the recording of this second and
eponymous album in Tucson. This record bring together same
contributors than
and this time, the collaboration of Howe Gelb (Giant Sand)
on several tacks.
"Live in Tucson" is the story of an only concert given in
Tucson on September first, 2001 with Valérie Leulliot
(Autour de Lucie), Howe Gelb (Giant Sand) and Joey Burns
(Calexico).
From 1997 to spring 2002, the Duo toured extensively in
the US (making appearances on the way at SXSW 2000 and
2001)
and in Europe (Festival de Bourges, Transmusicales
de Rennes...).
As a result of his increased exposure through album releases
and tours, the duo has been asked to contribute to a number
of international projects.
Naim and Thomas now both follows solo careers.
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