Louise Attaque
Encyclopedia
Louise Attaque is a French
chanson
/folk rock
group founded in 1994. Several of the group's albums were produced by Gordon Gano
, lead singer of The Violent Femmes, a band whom Louise Attaque often cites as an influence and for whom their own band is named.
and bassist Robin Feix met in high school in Montargis
. They moved to Paris after graduation where they met drummer Alexandre Margraff and formed a rock band named Caravage (after the Italian painter Caravaggio
). After briefly hiring a lead guitarist, the band met violinist Arnaud Samuel while recording in a Parisian studio.
, a 19th-century anarchist, and to the American rock band The Violent Femmes
(which loosely translates from French as "violent women"). The Violent Femmes leader, Gordon Gano
, produced Louise Attaque's self-titled debut album.
Louise Attaque
was released in April 1997 to a positive critical response. Despite low initial radio airplay, the reputation of the group spread rapidly, garnering particular praise for its innovative violin-based folk/rock compositions and witty lyrics. Louise Attaque sold 2.5 million copies in France, a record for a French rock album.
It took almost three years until Louise Attaque's second album Comme On A Dit
was released (in January 2000), again produced by Gordon Gano
. The album sold 700,000 copies in France. In 2001, after touring for five months and appearing at various rock festivals, the band split up, explaining that they were temporarily out of inspiration and tired of the hype and pressure surrounding them.
experimental music
featuring jam sessions
(mostly electro
and hip hop
).
in New York, their third album, À Plus Tard Crocodile, was released in September 2005. The title references the rock and roll song See You Later Alligator
.
À Plus Tard Crocodile was received as a departure from Louise Attaque's previous works, with lighter and more varied content.
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...
chanson
Chanson
A chanson is in general any lyric-driven French song, usually polyphonic and secular. A singer specialising in chansons is known as a "chanteur" or "chanteuse" ; a collection of chansons, especially from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, is also known as a chansonnier.-Chanson de geste:The...
/folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
group founded in 1994. Several of the group's albums were produced by Gordon Gano
Gordon Gano
Gordon James Gano is an American musician. He is best known for being the singer, guitarist and songwriter of American alternative rock band Violent Femmes.-Early life:...
, lead singer of The Violent Femmes, a band whom Louise Attaque often cites as an influence and for whom their own band is named.
Caravage (1990-1994)
Lead singer and guitarist Gaëtan RousselGaëtan Roussel
Gaëtan Roussel is a French singer, songwriter and composer. Roussel is the former lead vocalist for the bands, Louise Attaque and Tarmac....
and bassist Robin Feix met in high school in Montargis
Montargis
Montargis is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France. The town is located about south of Paris and east of Orléans in the Gâtinais....
. They moved to Paris after graduation where they met drummer Alexandre Margraff and formed a rock band named Caravage (after the Italian painter Caravaggio
Caravaggio
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was an Italian artist active in Rome, Naples, Malta, and Sicily between 1593 and 1610. His paintings, which combine a realistic observation of the human state, both physical and emotional, with a dramatic use of lighting, had a formative influence on the Baroque...
). After briefly hiring a lead guitarist, the band met violinist Arnaud Samuel while recording in a Parisian studio.
Louise Attaque's success (1997-2001)
Louise Attaque was formed in 1994. The name means "Louise Attacks" in French and refers to Louise MichelLouise Michel
Louise Michel was a French anarchist, school teacher and medical worker. She often used the pseudonym Clémence and was also known as the red virgin of Montmartre...
, a 19th-century anarchist, and to the American rock band The Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes were an American alternative rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, initially active between 1980 and 1987 and again from 1988 to 2009...
(which loosely translates from French as "violent women"). The Violent Femmes leader, Gordon Gano
Gordon Gano
Gordon James Gano is an American musician. He is best known for being the singer, guitarist and songwriter of American alternative rock band Violent Femmes.-Early life:...
, produced Louise Attaque's self-titled debut album.
Louise Attaque
Louise Attaque (album)
Louise Attaque is an album by French rock band Louise Attaque.Released in 1997, this debut album sold 2.5 million copies in France.-Track listing:#"Amours" – 1:57#"J't'emmène au vent" – 3:04#"Ton invitation" – 2:39#"La brune" – 1:55...
was released in April 1997 to a positive critical response. Despite low initial radio airplay, the reputation of the group spread rapidly, garnering particular praise for its innovative violin-based folk/rock compositions and witty lyrics. Louise Attaque sold 2.5 million copies in France, a record for a French rock album.
It took almost three years until Louise Attaque's second album Comme On A Dit
Comme On A Dit
Comme On A Dit is the second album by French rock band Louise Attaque.Although darker, and consequently less radio friendly than the debut album, it sold 700.000 copies in France.-Track listing:#"Qu'est ce qui nous tente?" - 2:44#"Tu dis rien" - 2:22...
was released (in January 2000), again produced by Gordon Gano
Gordon Gano
Gordon James Gano is an American musician. He is best known for being the singer, guitarist and songwriter of American alternative rock band Violent Femmes.-Early life:...
. The album sold 700,000 copies in France. In 2001, after touring for five months and appearing at various rock festivals, the band split up, explaining that they were temporarily out of inspiration and tired of the hype and pressure surrounding them.
Tarmac & Ali Dragon
Louise Attaque split into two different groups in 2001. Singer Gaëtan Roussel and violinist Arnaud Samuel formed Tarmac, while bassist Robin Feix and drummer Alexandre Margraff formed Ali Dragon. The goal of Tarmac was to explore the starker sounds of acoustic instruments, while Ali Dragon produced undergroundUnderground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
experimental music
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
featuring jam sessions
Jam Sessions
Jam Sessions is a guitar simulation software title and music game for the Nintendo DS based on the Japan-only title Sing & Play DS Guitar M-06 originally developed by Plato. It was brought to North America and Europe, courtesy of Ubisoft...
(mostly electro
Electro (music)
Electro is a genre of electronic dance music directly influenced by the use of TR-808 drum machines, Moog keytar synthesizers and funk sampling...
and hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
).
À Plus Tard Crocodile
The four members of the group reunited in 2003. After recording for a few weeks in the Electric Lady StudiosElectric Lady Studios
Electric Lady Studios, at 52 West 8th Street, in New York City's Greenwich Village, is a recording studio originally built by Jimi Hendrix and designed by John Storyk in 1970...
in New York, their third album, À Plus Tard Crocodile, was released in September 2005. The title references the rock and roll song See You Later Alligator
See You Later Alligator
"See You Later, Alligator" is the title of an iconic rock and roll song of the 1950s.Originally entitled "Later Alligator", the song, based on a 12-bar blues chord structure , was written by Louisiana songwriter Robert Charles Guidry and first recorded by him under his professional name "Bobby...
.
À Plus Tard Crocodile was received as a departure from Louise Attaque's previous works, with lighter and more varied content.
Awards
- 1999: Victoire de la musiqueVictoires de la MusiqueVictoires 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...
in the category Band of the Year. - 2001: Victoire de la musique in the category "Rock Album of the Year" for the album Comme on a dit.
- 2006: Victoire de la musique in the category "Pop/rock Album of the Year" for the album À Plus Tard Crocodile.
Discography
- 1997: Louise AttaqueLouise Attaque (album)Louise Attaque is an album by French rock band Louise Attaque.Released in 1997, this debut album sold 2.5 million copies in France.-Track listing:#"Amours" – 1:57#"J't'emmène au vent" – 3:04#"Ton invitation" – 2:39#"La brune" – 1:55...
(Atmosphériques) - 2000: Comme On A DitComme On A DitComme On A Dit is the second album by French rock band Louise Attaque.Although darker, and consequently less radio friendly than the debut album, it sold 700.000 copies in France.-Track listing:#"Qu'est ce qui nous tente?" - 2:44#"Tu dis rien" - 2:22...
(Atmosphériques) - 2005: À Plus Tard Crocodile (Atmosphériques)
- 2006: En concert - Y'a t'il quelqu'un ici ? (Universal Music)