A sucre d'orge evening at the Montreux Jazz Festival

On July 10, two revelations of today's French chanson took to the stage in the intimate and privileged atmosphere of the Montreux Palace.

For its 51st edition, the Montreux Jazz Festival inaugurated the «Out of the box» series, allowing a few favorite artists to perform in the region's historic venues. At the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, the festival had the excellent idea of bringing together two French singer-songwriters on the same evening. Two very fine musicians. She, a lover of the music of language; he, a lover of the language of music.

Juliette Armanet, an angel from heaven

Anyone who goes to a Juliette Armanet concert needs time to recover. Alone in front of her grand piano, the singer, rightly considered the heiress of William Sheller and her idol Laurent Voulzy, offered us a very intimate moment. Juliette Armanet's universe is one of self-indulgent melancholy, and she throws her words around like colored notes and soap bubbles. Her voice seems to avoid the imperfections of live performance, so perfect does it sound. As for her attitude, it's clearly that of a charmer. Multiplying her winks to men, she even invited one of the audience to sit next to her for the time of a romantic song. The former Arte and France Culture reporter, revealed for her musical talent at the «inRocKs lab 2014» competition, has no shortage of audacity. It's no doubt what will make her a star.

His debut album was released this year on the prestigious Barclay label. Entitled Girlfriend, This opus is about tender love in its entirety. Past love, of course, but also the desire for independence and the impact our feelings have on our vision of the world. A concept album, in short, rich in absolutely successful pop arrangements that don't encroach on the piano, which remains the central instrument of the songs.

Unfulfilled love
Will fade in the rain
I can't see the light any more
It will be wonderful
Wonderful
Yes, the blue of the sky
Will last forever

(In the rain)

If you don't know Juliette Armanet, remember her name, because she has a great future ahead of her. Above all, take a good half-hour to listen to her songs, at home, on the train or by the ocean. The Indian, A la Folie, Lonely love or Alexandre will leave you breathless.

The world of Albin de la Simone

After the sensual shock of Juliette Armanet, we needed someone to bring us back down to earth. Albin de la Simone was that man. More pragmatic, less ethereal, his universe is no less atypical. A guitarist and percussionist, a cellist and backing vocalist and a violinist and backing vocalist accompany Albin de la Simone, who sings seated behind his keyboard. Only the singer and his instrument are amplified by a small loudspeaker. The concert is virtually acoustic. The result is an audience with attentive ears and silent mouths.

Lyrically, it's a completely different register from that of the young singer. No more passion for love. «We didn't talk about love. Love didn't exist.» Let's talk about me and grow up. Let's make me our passion.« Albin de la Simone is a man of fine derision, who accompanies each of his discoveries with gestures. The audience is told stories.

As for the music, it's a pure marvel. It's when you realize that the arranger for Pascal Obispo, Alain Souchon and Vanessa Paradis could have chosen a thousand other musical registers, that it becomes even more touching to discover precisely the register he has chosen. Built on a keyboard base, the arrangements take us into a hushed world of childhood and flashes of inspiration. My shoulders, The prime of life, My beard is growing, These are pearls to be heard in your own living room, if not at the Montreux Palace.

Jonas Follonier is the founder and editor-in-chief of Regard Libre. Write to the author: jonas.follonier@leregardlibre.com.

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