L'Affaire Louis Trio
Encyclopedia
L'Affaire Louis' Trio were an art pop band from Lyon
, France
. The band formed in 1982, and in 1986 were signed to Barclay
records, France
, who released their first album, 'Chic Planete'. The members were: singer / bassist Cleet Boris (aka Hubert Mounier), guitarist Karl Niagara (aka Vincent Mounier, Hubert's younger brother) and keyboardist / drummer Bronco Junior (aka Francois Lebleu, who died in December 2008). In 1987, L'Affaire Louis' Trio were awarded the prize for best newcomers at France's prestigious 'Victoires de la Musique
' ceremony.
The trio stayed together until 1997, when Vincent Mounier left during the recording of their 1997 release, 'Europium'. Since then, the band was dissolved, but Hubert Mounier recorded with drummer Lebleu on his first two solo releases, 'Le Grand Huit' (2001) and 'Voyager Leger' (2005). He has also worked extensively as a comic book artist under his Cleet Boris pseudonym.
. Their initial recordings relied heavily on contributions from some of France's top jazz musicians, however, the band's sound was continually refined over the years, with Europium (1997), their last album, offering their most stripped down, guitar-centric arrangements.
s. His most lyrically ambitious project was L'Affaire Louis' Trio's fourth album, Mobilis in Mobile (1993) a concept album
based on the character of Captain Nemo
, from Jules Verne
's Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea
bassist Colin Moulding
on 'L'Homme aux Mille Vies' (1995) and Michel Gondry
on the video for 'Il y a Ceux' (1989)
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The band formed in 1982, and in 1986 were signed to Barclay
Barclay
-People:* Barclay , people with the surname Barclay* Clan BarclayFictional* Andy Barclay, the protagonist in the first three films of the Child's Play series* Reginald Barclay, character in Star Trek: The Next Generation-Business:...
records, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, who released their first album, 'Chic Planete'. The members were: singer / bassist Cleet Boris (aka Hubert Mounier), guitarist Karl Niagara (aka Vincent Mounier, Hubert's younger brother) and keyboardist / drummer Bronco Junior (aka Francois Lebleu, who died in December 2008). In 1987, L'Affaire Louis' Trio were awarded the prize for best newcomers at France's prestigious 'Victoires de la Musique
Victoires de la Musique
Victoires de la musique , is an annual French award ceremony that recognizes the best musical artists of the year.- Male artist of the year :*1985 : Michel Jonasz*1986 : Jean-Jacques Goldman*1987 : Johnny Hallyday...
' ceremony.
The trio stayed together until 1997, when Vincent Mounier left during the recording of their 1997 release, 'Europium'. Since then, the band was dissolved, but Hubert Mounier recorded with drummer Lebleu on his first two solo releases, 'Le Grand Huit' (2001) and 'Voyager Leger' (2005). He has also worked extensively as a comic book artist under his Cleet Boris pseudonym.
Style
The band's sound was defined by large scale, jazz-influenced arrangements from the likes of big band veteran Christian Fradin and singer-songwriter Benjamin BiolayBenjamin Biolay
Benjamin Biolay is a French singer, songwriter, musician, actor and record producer. He is the brother of singer Coralie Clément, whose two albums he wrote and produced, and the ex-husband of Chiara Mastroianni, the daughter of Catherine Deneuve and Marcello Mastroianni.His low-key vocal style is...
. Their initial recordings relied heavily on contributions from some of France's top jazz musicians, however, the band's sound was continually refined over the years, with Europium (1997), their last album, offering their most stripped down, guitar-centric arrangements.
Lyrics
Hubert Mounier's lyrics are often witty, containing a large amount of wordplay and punPun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
s. His most lyrically ambitious project was L'Affaire Louis' Trio's fourth album, Mobilis in Mobile (1993) a concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
based on the character of Captain Nemo
Captain Nemo
Captain Nemo, also known as Prince Dakkar, is a fictional character featured in Jules Verne's novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and The Mysterious Island ....
, from Jules Verne
Jules Verne
Jules Gabriel Verne was a French author who pioneered the science fiction genre. He is best known for his novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea , A Journey to the Center of the Earth , and Around the World in Eighty Days...
's Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea is a classic science fiction novel by French writer Jules Verne published in 1870. It tells the story of Captain Nemo and his submarine Nautilus as seen from the perspective of Professor Pierre Aronnax...
Collaborations
L'ALT worked with notable musicians and filmmakers, including XTCXTC
XTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime" , but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical success.- Early years:...
bassist Colin Moulding
Colin Moulding
Colin Ivor Moulding is a bassist, songwriter and vocalist. He is a founding member of the band XTC. Though less prolific than bandmate Andy Partridge, Moulding wrote many of the group's most popular songs, including their first three UK hit singles: "Life Begins At The Hop", "Making Plans For...
on 'L'Homme aux Mille Vies' (1995) and Michel Gondry
Michel Gondry
Michel Gondry is an Academy Award winning filmmaker, whose works include being a commercial director, music video director, and a screenwriter. He is noted for his inventive visual style and manipulation of mise en scène. - Life and career :...
on the video for 'Il y a Ceux' (1989)
Discography
Full studio albums:- Chic Planete (1987)
- Le Retour De L'Age D'Or (1988)
- Sans Legende (1990)
- Mobilis In Mobile (1993)
- L'Homme Aux Mille Vies (1995)
- L'Affaire Louis' Trio (1997)