No Need to Ask, the Answer is Yes
The most promising debut of 2008 that you didn’t hear? Francois Virot’s “Yes or No”
Francois Virot
Yes or No
Released on Sep 30, 2008
This has never happened to me before. I’ve uploaded an album into my iTunes, and its genre is classified as “unclassifiable.” While I was only mildly interesting in listening to Francois Virot before this uploading discovery, I’m now impossibly intrigued and cannot wait to hear the first track.
OK, iTunes. I wouldn’t go crazy and say that this is “unclassifiable,” but Virot certainly has a refreshing sound, and his album Yes or No is an absolute pleasure to listen to. While I hate to make proclamations about artists to watch in 2009, I’m confident in saying that he’ll be one of them to keep an ear out for. These sonically beautiful compositions need to be heard.
First of all, the guy’s French, so he’s already cooler than many singers currently releasing material. Secondly, I’m a sucker for folk music that isn’t afraid to be on the more experimental side. However, he doesn’t go completely off the inaccessible deep end—there are discernable lyrics and choruses on most of the songs. Think of him as a slightly more grounded Devendra Banhart. His warm voice is exactly what you want to hear during the winter months, no matter what the weather is, and the boy has some amazing guitar skills. “Island” stands out as one of the more stunning tracks, since it uses almost the full range of his voice, and has some truly impressive guitar strumming to boot. Also, it’s one of the more upbeat songs of the album, providing an interesting tempo change.
While I liken him to Banhart, others have aligned him with the influence of Animal Collective, which is apparent on the first track “Not The One.” The simplest parts of songs are often the best, as is the case on this song. Its beauty is on full display as he sings “it’s over now I’m not the one not the one not the one not the one…” If his strained voice doesn’t break your heart, you’ll at least be bowled over by the effortless sentiment of the lyric.
The effortless quality of this album cannot be overstated—it’s a marvel to listen to, because it’s gorgeously produced, but it’s easy to visualize him sitting around and playing this track list as an acoustic set with equal talent. During a time when the music world seems to be retreated to a sonically pastoral landscape, Virot fits right in, without sounding like he’s covering Fleet Foxes. When you need to find some comfort in a unique voice and stripped-down guitar, make sure to seek out Francois Virot.
High Point
His voice. Equal parts pained and passionate makes for a haunting and gorgeous listening experience.
Low Point
Give me a few more songs, please. 10 tracks are not enough.
Posted by Alyssa Vincent on Jan 22, 2009 @ 9:00 am