Sous La Peau. Versari

Sous la peau translates into under the skin. I'll settle for that description when listening to the music on Versari's new album. This is the kind of music that does. It is extremely direct. Some songs come towards me with the direct intent to conquer and dominate. There's little room for delicacies to discuss somewhere in between. Hence the music on Sous La Peau can be a bit much at times. So far I've lived to tell.

Sous La Peau was released just before my holidays, so came too late to be taken in at the time. I do make amends like I had intended then as this album deserves full attention on this blog.

Versari is a French trio, bass, drums, guitar, led by Jean-Charles Versari. With his dark voice he sings in the tradition of the French chanson. I have no hardship recognising someone like Jacques Dutronc in his way of singing, but also more traditional chanson singers. It is what happens underneath his voice that underscores his way of singing in a totally different way. The result is a form of bleakness that borders on no hope forever. The band received help from an Englishmen, Adrian Utley, e.g. from Portishead, who added guitar and synth parts to the trio setting.

My personal guess is that it is the parts of Utley that let some light into the songs. A few lighter parts that adorn the darkness Versari produces.

Promo photo

Things Versari start with the dark bass that goes full out over the drums. A heavy chugging sound that drives the songs forward like cowboys herding cattle over the prairies to the train bound for Chicago's slaughterhouses. Over that firm foundation the guitar chords are played, filling up parts that are empty. The overall result is impressive as the music is as direct as it is good. I can only believe Jean-Charles Versari when he says that his lyrics are all on losing things, feelings, loved ones. For that my French is too dismal. What I can only note is how his words and diction deliver the cherries on the cake Sous La Peau is.

The album ends with a slower and more open song. 'Pour La Tristesse' is the kind of song I want to end an album. Impressive and inviting. The kind of song that invites a relisten and making it hard to wait for a new album to come along. 'Pour La Tristesse' does all this and more. A post punk epic songs it is.

Wo.

You can buy Sous La Peau here:

https://www.gentlemenrecordings.com/


or listen to our Spotify Playlist to find out what we are writing about:

https://open.spotify.com/user/glazu53/playlist/6R9FgPd2btrMuMaIrYeCh6?si=KI6LzLaAS5K-wsez5oSO2g