Amor Belhom Duo

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.