Belated Bastille Celebration
Photo by: Xavier Watkins
This is a bit of a scam. I am not French. I do not really celebrate Bastille Day. I am all for storming things like castles and oppressive governments but that's also all talk really. So in honor of the Bastille Day (I do not celebrate on a yearly basis) I'd like to talk about Bertrand Burgalat.
I listen to a lot of music. Probably more than the average ipod wearer on the street. Hang on a second here, as I am not intending to be show-offy, I do have a point I am rambling towards. While I listen to and love a large number of artists, very few of them inspire me the way that Bertrand Burgalat does. Rather than write my own impossibly incomplete bio on the man... check out his wiki and this bio from RFI Musique. Both of these are still out of date but at least you can begin to understand why "The Genius of Bertrand Burgalat" is more than just an album name.
I've mentioned Bertrand in passing before but have never actually stopped to consider the huge number of artists that Bertrand has worked with... Air, Depeche Mode, Mick Harvey, Nick Cave, Pulp, Eggstone, Ladytron, April March, Momus, Louis Philippe1, Pizzicato Five, The High Llamas, Laibach, Einstürzende Neubauten, Cinnamon, Saint Etienne2 and everyone who has appeared on Tricatel over the years. Yet all of the namedropping in the world doesn't begin to explain WHY he's been so in demand as a producer, bassist, arranger, etc... but these can...
Bertrand Burgalat - Ma Rencontre
Bertrand Burgalat - Nonza
As Heather mentioned yesterday he's also just collaborated with Robert Wyatt on a new song called "This Summer Night" that can be heard over on the Tricatel website.
1 Where do you suppose Louis learned to create those beautiful string arrangements?
2 I've misplaced my copy of "La Poupee Qui Fait Non". Sadness. If anyone cares to send me an mp3 I'd love it.
Buy some: Bertrand!