Maria

The second EP is a mix between lyric-driven French « chanson », pop, jazz and American folk music. It was recorded in a day, after a single rehearsal, so as to give a preview of what aLamanon can convey on stage this season and in the future.

Raphaël Marais, who plays the upright bass, knows the uniqueness of Alamanon’s songs. His sense of harmonies and melodies helps blend a baroque touch into the songs. Alamanon plays the harmonica and the guitar, sings, and writes the lyrics, which are both earnest and spiced up with a touch of humour. His music also helps him express his feelings. Côte d’Ivoire-born drummer Shan Lotchi-Ludmann loves powerful drumming and African rhythms. His sharp imagination provides a groovy quality to their music, backed by his efficient timing.

Eric Bouvet shot videos of each song as it was recorded in the Métronome in Lyon. The video files can be found at the end of the EP. The front sleeve of Maria is a creation by painter Martin Buffet.

The songs:

« Maria » is about the huge gap that divides our law-and-order, impersonal modern society and the pride of a young Roma girl.

« Compteur » is the desperate cry of a young man on the edge, who cannot find a woman with enough guts and personality to rein him in.

« Black blanc beur » was written to drive the last nail in the coffin of racism. Nearly all skin colours are represented, although we’re missing red and yellow.

« Eau chaude » is the extraordinary journey of an emblematic life marked by fate, although seemingly doomed at first.

« Sarah » is a love song written for a young Algerian woman in Grenoble, whose name was Sabrina, and with whom Alamanon might be reunited one day.