Noir Désir is one of the most important rock bands in France. In their 30-year history they have released only 6 albums, not counting compilations and concert recordings. But that has not stopped the band from achieving a cult status.
The fusion of alternative and garage rock, post-punk, lyrics referring to works of great classics, and the soulful voice of the lead singer – Bertrand Cant – all this ensured the success of the band. We can assure that it’s this husky vocals that have become the band’s calling card.
Bertrand sings with a kind of fatal breakdown. This fatal break has accompanied the singer and his band throughout their long musical career. Vocal surgeries, the deaths of two beloved women, imprisonment and harassment by the sensation-hungry press – the behind-the-scenes life of Noir Désir, concealed by the profound lyrics and the catchy melodies of the songs.
The games of the Noir Désir line-up
The band Noir Désir officially announced itself in 1987 with the release of its debut album “Où veux-tu qu’je r’garde?”.
But its story began 7 years before that, in 1980. At that time two Lycée friends Bertrand Cantat (vocals, guitar) and Serge Teyssot-Gay (guitar) decided to create their own rock band.
A few months later they were joined by Denis Barthe (drums). Vincent Leriche (bass guitar) joins them in 1981 and the band wins the “Rockotone5” contest.
In 1982 Leriche and Tessot-Gay leave to found B.A.M. (Boîte à Musique) and guitarist Luc Robène and bassist Frederic Vidalenc join the band.
In ’83 Kant leaves as well (none of the founders is left in the band). He is replaced by Emmanuel Ory-Weil, also temporarily. After 6 months Bertrand returns, and Emmanuel becomes the official manager of the band.
In the summer of 1985 Luc Robin leaves because of some creative disagreements within the group and Tesso-Gay returns. From this moment all this “Santa Barbara” stops and the line-up of the band does not change until 1995, when instead of Frédéric Vidalen the bass guitar is taken by Jean-Paul Roy.
Also the band changed its name several times. At first it was called Psychoz, then 6.35 and Station Désir. Until, finally, the musicians settled on Noir Désirs (translation “Dark Desires”) – plural.
Later, when the band signed a contract with the label Barclay Records, the numerous “desires” turned into a single “désir”.
First success and first problems
Noir Désir gained real recognition with the release of its second LP, Veuillez rendre l’âme (à qui elle appartient), in 1989. It burst into radio primetime and was named one of the best rock albums in France. And the song “Aux sombres héros de l’amer” took the leading place in the TOP 50. Such popularity of the composition, by the way, did not please the rebellious ego of the musicians: they thought that only housewives listen to them.
Then the Soviet rockers got a chance to hear Noir Désir “live”: the musicians went on a full-scale tour after the recording of the album and played, including opening for the band “Kino”.
The next two years the albums “Du ciment sous les plaines” (1991) and “Tostaky” (1992) were released.
And then the first serious trouble happened – the vocalist lost his voice. The unbridled way of life combined with psychological problems had an effect. He had to have an urgent/complicated surgery on his vocal cords and suspend his musical activity for a while.
A brilliant comeback
The band Noir Désir returned to the scene four years later with a new, more mature and at the same time heavier release, 666.667 Club (1996).
The popularity of the fresh hit “Un jour en France” no longer embarrassed the band as much as the success of the previous tracks. The musicians realized that along with housewives they were also listened to by true rock music lovers.
And again, after the tour in support of the album, Kanta finds himself in the hospital. Another ligament surgery and a long rehabilitation period is expected.
Together with Bertrand, the band goes silent again for several years. New tracks of Noir Désir were heard by the fans only in 2001 with the release of the new album “Des visages, des figures”, which became the last full-length record of the band.
This release of the band literally sold out. More than a million records were sold, and in 2002 it was awarded the prize of the prestigious French contest “Victoires de la musique”.
The song “Des armes” by Noir Désir is a new hit. This lyrical parable reveals Kant more as a poet than as a musician. In fact, he didn’t so much sing it as he wheezed it out. It is perhaps that rare exception where the words and emotion in a song become more important than the melody.
The critics did not ignore the track “Le vent nous portera” by Noir Désir either. In it, Bertrand uses his favorite trick called “hide the profound lyrics behind an uncomplicated motif”.
The beginning of the end
In the spring of 2004 another blow followed, which Noir Désir could no longer endure. Bertrand Cantat, after a long quarrel with his lover, the actress Marie Trintignant, not having calculated his own strength, hits her several times in the face in the hotel room. A few days later, she dies and Bertrand is sentenced to eight years for manslaughter and subsequent neglect of care.
All this time the band has been trying, if not to conquer new musical heights, at least to hold on. In 2005 he releases a collection of concert recordings “Noir Désir en public” and starts preparing a new album.
A year later the remaining trio performs at the festival “Les Rendez-vous de Terres Neuves”. And in November 2008 the fans could listen to the band’s tracks “Gagnants/Perdants” and “Le Temps des cerises”, posted on the Internet for free.
However, the high-profile comeback never happened. After Bertrand’s release, the quartet tries to record new compositions. But it turned out that there was nothing left between the members that had bonded them before.
In 2010 the band disintegrates for good. Serge Tesso-Gae announced his decision to leave the band on November 29, and the next day Danny Barthe announced that Noir Désir had finally stopped its activities.
The band Noir Désir has been a model of French post-punk/alternative rock music for almost a third of a century. Unfortunately, they won’t please their fans with new tracks anymore. Nevertheless, their music has forever settled in the hearts of several generations who grew up on the compositions of the cult underground quartet.
I discovered this band quite recently, but I’ve already listened to all their albums, and I wish you to do the same.
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