Live Report - 21 Love Hotel (OPA Bastille, Paris, 16/11/2006)

Après avoir entendu et ressenti des émotions si fulgurantes à l'écoute des extraits de leur album à venir (voir chronique), voir 21 Love Hotel suscitait un désir et une impatience hors normes, une envie de ressentir ces magnifiques chansons en direct, et surtout, pouvoir enfin rencontrer et admirer ces deux artistes dans un élément autre que le format, aussi merveilleux soit-il, d'un EP. Saisir l'occasion de retrouver l'identité et l'originalité du duo était donc primordial, voire obsessionnel: il fallait voir, sentir, vibrer. Et surtout se laisser porter par la curiosité: comment ces chansons allaient-elles prendre leur véritable dimension sur scène, devant un public venu nombreux à l'OPA, est comment l'intimité de cette musique aérienne, hypnotisante et superbe, pourrait-elle ressortir dans de telles conditions?

Et c'est alors que la surprise, aussi intense que la première écoute des pièces musicales du groupe, est apparue; cinq musiciens sur scène... Clémence et Frédéric, bien sûr, mais surtout, un batteur, un violoncelliste et un contrebassiste. Après l'étonnement, un sentiment d'impatience et d'excitation naît: comment retranscrire l'intimisme des compositions avec de tels instruments, et quels risques le duo avait-il décidé de prendre pour leur représentation? C'est surprenant, beau, original, et inattendu; avant même que les premières notes de Lonely Lady apparaissent, on comprend que, loin de reproduire fidèlement leurs oeuvres, les deux artistes veulent partager, sur scène, et hors de scène, une expérience unique, et dangereuse...

Dans de telles conditions, Clémence ne peut qu'imposer son charisme, sa voix magnifique, et son regard hypnotisant, paralysant. Elle est grâcieuse, que ce soit devant son micro aux allures rétro, lorsque qu'elle chante ou hurle dans un mégaphone, ou que, telle une princesse indienne, elle improvise des sons mélodieux et captivants sur un theremin posé juste face à elle. Alors, on observe, on admire, et on vit chaque chanson sous ce nouveau jour: que ce soit le final intense et inattendu de Gabriella's Wings, la voix de Clémence saturée sur Lonely Lady, l'émouvante profondeur de X-Mas Time, ou ce magnifique et profond avant-dernier morceau, on sait que l'on est, encore une fois, sous le charme du groupe. Comment ne pas admirer une telle démarche, aussi risquée soit-elle? Il faut faire plaisir et se faire plaisir, et 21 Love Hotel y est parvenu, sans aucune difficulté. Et alors que l'on croyait, face à ce véritable ensemble, perdre un peu de l'intimité des chansons auparavant entendues, lorsque les dernières notes s'achèvent, on comprend que l'on a encore vécu un instant particulier; là, dans ce petit espace, cette même intimité régnait entre les membres du groupe, sur scène, et grâce à ce qu'ils ont apporté au public.

Susciter et faire vivre une autre dimension de la musique; c'est ce que 21 Love Hotel, s'appropriant l'espace et l'atmosphère, est parvenu à accomplir ce soir-là. Oser, et donner; partager, et se donner... De telles émotions si difficiles à faire naître, et que le Clémence et Frédéric ont offert, en compagnie d'autres artistes... Emotionnellement, artistiquement, merci...

- Frédéric D. Oberland, pour sa disponibilité dans des conditions pourtant assez difficiles; Clémence Léauté, que je n'ai malheureusement pas pu voir; les artistes ayant partagé la scène, dont certains pour la première fois dans ce style de musique si particulier... Un grand bravo à tous...

- Nape, Marin Favre, et Punch, pour leur ouverture d'esprit, leur sympathie, et le temps si précieux passé ensemble... Merci à vous trois, sincèrement...

After listening and feeling so many powerful emotions thanks to the extracts from their forecoming album (see review), one couldn't but feel excited and impatient to see 21 Love Hotel playing their songs live, and be thankful enough to admire and meet those two amazing artists on stage, exposing their music to an intimate audience. The main aim was to find the duet's own identity and originality in such a particular context, and then get a kind of obsession; one had to see, feel, and vibrate. So, one couldn't but feel curious about it: how would those intemporal songs explore space on a stage, in front of a full audience here at the OPA, and what intimacy would the band create when performing their aerial, hypnotizing and wonderful music?

First, it was surprising, and this is why: against all odds, five musicians appeared on stage, although 21 Love Hotel was created by only two people: first appeared, of course, Clémence and Frédéric, but they were accompanied by a drummer, cello and contrabass... After feeling astonished by such a decision from the band, impatience and excitation took place: how would those intimate songs be performed with so many instruments, and what kind of risks was the band about to take when thy played their music on stage, in such conditions? It was as surprising as beautiful, original, and unexpected; before playing Lonely Lady's first tunes, one could understand that, apart from exposing their songs in the same way as on the album, both artists wanted to share, on the stage as well as out of it, and live a particular and dangerous experience with everybody...


But those risks made the band shine brighter to our eyes, and proved that 21 Love Hotel was more than a single duet, and that anybody could feel and live so many powerful emotions; everything here was delicate. From sweet then distorted strings arrangements and electro-folk rhythm guitar guiding each other's part, to heart-beating then soft drums, each player found his own place on the stage, and gave their own meaning to the songs. Then every musician felt comfortable while playing:the cello player was smiling and having fun,the contrabass player and Frédéric were extremely focused on the sound, and the drummer remained in tune and concentrated during the whole show (which is rare and spectacular in such a small place).The musicians listened to and answered each other, sharing pleasure in such a particular moment...

In such perfect conditions, Clémence imposed her charism,her wonderful voice, and her hypnotizing and paralyzing look. She was full of grace, whether singing in front of an old microphone, or howling in her megaphone; or, as an Indian Princess, improvising amazingly tuned sounds on her Theremin. So,one couldn't but stare at them, admire, and share each song played in completely renewed versions (intense and unexpected improvisation at the end of Gabriella's Wings, oversatured voice on Lonely Lady, deep tension on X-Mas Time, or an astonishing and captivating forelast song). The audience understood that, once again, the band displayed its charm and originality. So how couldn't we but admire such a powerful and risky way of playing? Thinking that the band would lose the intimacy of the songs if they played with five people on stage, however, when the show came to an end, everybody understood that this was another particular and impressive moment that was lived here; here, in such a small room, one couldn't but feel intimacy, again; first, between the different members of the band, then with the audience.

So, while giving another dimension to their music and inspiring such a deep respect when exploring the whole space, 21 Love Hotel made this evening special to everybody. They tried new things, took risks; and shared and displayed a lot of their art... Such deep emotions are really hard to bring to an audience, and Clémence and Frédéric offered them to all of us, thanks to other amazing artists... So, we have to thank them for this, emotionally, and artistically...

Slug

- Frédéric D. Oberland, for taking time to speak and share in such hard conditions; Clémence Léauté, even if I wasn't lucky enough to meet and thank her for this wonderful show (next time, I hope); all the artists, and especially the ones who played this style of music for the first time... Congratulations to everybody...

-Nape, Marin Favre, and Chrisophe (Punch), for being so open-minded and kind, and for sharing such a special moment with me... Huge thanks to you, sincerely...