Les Mécanos – Usures (L-EMA/InOuïe Distribution, 2024)
Saint-Étienne-based vocal and percussion music collective Les Mécanos will launch their first full-length album, Usures, on November 22, 2024. Following their self-titled EP in 2021 and over 100 performances across France, Europe, and Canada, Les Mécanos has already released two singles, “Deman matin” and “Les Piafs.”
Les Mécanos features ten accomplished musicians that intertwine the raw textures of Occitan polyphony with fresh, modern interpretations, positioning themselves among the vanguard of French contemporary folk collectives like Barrut and Cocanha. Their music is anchored in the industrial roots of Saint-Étienne, where labor and resilience have shaped both people and place. This unique heritage permeates their sound, as they weave traditional influences with contemporary sensibilities, yielding vocal harmonies that are both robust and magnetic, underscored by rhythmic percussion that is as intricate as it is evocative.
The ensemble demonstrates profound artistic maturity in their arrangements. Their multilingual repertoire, sung in both French and regional dialects, draws deeply from the working-class ethos and local folklore of their home region. Each song is a narrative, striking a delicate balance between intensity and intimacy, crafting an immersive experience grounded in tradition.
Musicians (vocals & percussion): Rémi Bacher; Gaël Bernaud; Martin Bub; Antoine Chillet; Sylvère Decot; Jonathan Duraj; Benoit Feugère; Jérémie Plasson; Simon Pourrat; and Guillaume Sbaïz.
Cover artwork by Maryline Mathevot and Gabriel Notin.
Author: Tyler Bennet
