|
|
|
| |
"No Border": the title of the album itself seems
to wonderfully sum up all that has constituted Thomas Belhom's
inner world for a couple of years.
First discographic step : Amor Belhom Duo. This is the story
of a long lasting friendship between Naïm Amor (chorus,
violins, guitars, sampler) and Thomas (drums, percussions,
chorus, squeeze-box) - two French men working in a mystic and
inspiring landscape - Tucson, Arizona - both craving for carving
their groove beyond any style or label (folk, jazz, blues,
improvised music, post rock, bluegrass, country...). Four chapters
including a live album and a "Tête à tête" with
Calexico, hundreds of concerts on both continents revealed
a peculiar, surprising and inventive duo. The collaboration
ended in 2002.
Moving away from the throes of the bureaucracy and the fallout
from the 9/11 attacks on stateless people, Thomas decided to
return to the nomads' caravan with his muse, Viva Yazon. Thus
Europe became his ground of predilection again, without being
nostalgic for cactuses and plane graveyards but saddened to
have to leave a many friends.
After "Mobile Home", the EP published by La Grange à Disques
in a passport-shaped case - reflecting his detestation for
the barriers erected between Humans - Thomas' first solo album "Remedios" was
published in 2004, characterized by its fragile beauty and
by the grace conferred by sincerity and audacity. Through this
album, Thomas shows that he is not only a talented percussionist
but also that he is excellent at moving listeners with his
voice, his guitar, his melodies.
An album that enables him to go over Europe, and to share his
so personal constructions in live and in solo, the precarious
balance of which and the choreographies to which they lead
their creator on stage, contribute to the beauty.
Today, whereas some dream of always more hermetic borders,
Thomas Belhom asserts his musician and world citizen's freedom
on a second album recorded between Munich, London, Nashville
and Paris.
"
No border" is the travelogue of a musician who loves encounters
and who cannot bear all that prevent them from happening.
Thus his tightrope walker's melodies have been enriched with
trips and the recordings of numerous musicians and friends'
participation. Stuart Stapples (Tinkersticks) - accompanied
by Thomas on stage, after he took part to the recording of
his second album "Leaving songs" - sings on the magnificent "South
over the seven hills". You can also hear Volker Zander
(Calexico), who accompanied Amor Belhom Duo on the double bass
at the occasion of their last tour and Kim Ohio (Mad River)
- met at the time of Witches Valley, who sings along with Thomas
Belhom on three titles. One of the two instrumental tracks
of the album is even composed and interpreted by Viva Yazon,
who is also painter and from now on Thomas Belhom's wife, accompanied
by Paul Nihaus (Lambchop) and his so characteristic steel guitar.
If needing and missing somebody too many times are the leitmotiv
of "No Border", Thomas Belhom's melodies assert themselves
by their subtlety, their lightness sometimes, such as wariness
about the violent evolution of the world. Indeed, if human
beings remain his favourite topic, Thomas can less and less
bear seeing "partout où l'on dort, des miradors" (anywhere
you sleep, watchtowers).
Music like a refuge, between two days of trip. |
|
|
|
