MERMONTESo, raise your hand if you’ve been to the French region of Bretagne? Been to its picturesque capital? Well, it’s called Rennes, and it’s a beauty that holds many attractions, many of which may be a secret to many. One of these well-kept secrets is the thriving music scene and its many bands. In the summer of 2009, the NMO went to a show in the heart of Rennes and ended up at a party on a farm just outside town with what seemed like a dozen interesting local bands. It turns out some of these bands joined forces and created a local super group: Mermonte. The band is fronted by Ghislain Fracapane who records with five friends from the local music scene and plays with an additional four at live shows. This results in a unique live experience with no less than 10 gifted musicians on stage. And what do they sound like, you ask? Mermonte is life-affirming and enthusiastic math-pop meets progressive rock with an almost jazzy twist, delicate choir harmonies, lots of glockenspiel, lots of love. It is as nuanced as it is simple. They recently won the Les Inrocks Lab in France and will soon perform with bands such as Tindersticks and Lambchop at the glorious La Cigale in Paris. Mermonte released their self-titled debut album on May 9th through Les Disques Normal/Hiphiphip Records (France), Father Figure Records (Denmark) and Friend of Mine Records (Japan). For more info: mermonte18@gmail.com |
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Name: MERMONTE / From: RENNES, FRANCE
Q1: How did you start? And where did the name come from?
I (Ghislain Fracapane, ed.) started playing a couple of songs alone in my bedroom about ten years ago, and then friends suggested me I recreate that music on stage.
To tell the truth, the idea of the name came to me during a party where I was a kind of drunk. I’ve always been fascinated by French jazz musicians like Bertrand Renaudin, Mark Ducret and Daniel Humair. So I decided to take a really French name like Gustave Mermonte and it simply became Mermonte.
Q2: For anyone who has never heard of you, give three reasons why they should?
It’s quite a difficult question, like someone asking for your qualities and defaults at a job interview. My music can be catalogued as pop music, which is, by definition, open to everybody. I mean, an expert in music can find subtleties, and a neophyte can just enjoy the mood.
It’s also an orchestral band with a lot of arrangements and different kinds of colours. Mermonte is the best music ever to make love to and going to a picnic to!
Q3: Tell us a little about where you’re from and how your surroundings affect the music that you create.
I live in Rennes in the Northwest of France, which is a lovely small town where many artists live. We create all kinds of music, and we influence each other in many ways.
Q4: Which other artists influence your work?
I like minimalist music like Steve Reich. His rhythms really inspire me.
I also like American Football and their guitar harmonies.
I’m influenced by The Beatles and The Beach Boys because of their arrangements. Artists like HiM (Doug Sharin) or Mulatu Astatke for their afrobeat sides. But there are many, many more.
Q5: What has been your most memorable experience of being in the band?
I think it was the first time we all played together. It’s so rewarding when nine other people are playing your music as one!
Q6: If you could organize your own dream festival which THREE acts would you choose to headline and why?
Maps and Atlases because they’ve managed to do really technical music that’s still easy to listen to. Tera Melos for their stage presence. Joan of Arc because they gave me the will to experiment in music.
Q7: What are your current plans and what are your main ambitions for the future?
Our first album was released in May in France (Les Disques Normal/Hiphiphip Records), Denmark (Father Figure Records) and in Japan (Friend of Mine Records). A French tour will follow and a couple of festivals too. Like most bands, we’d like to play as much as possible and make more albums… and may our band live forever!
Q8: Which other new acts from your country would you recommend to The NMO and its readers?
You should listen to La Terre Tremble, Jean Jean, Sport, Apes Did Ensemble, Splash Wave, Lady Jane, Unlogistic, Arch Woodman, Montgomery, Baton Rouge, Electric Electric, Fordamage, Laetitia Sheriff (and the list goes on)
For more information contact: mermonte18@gmail.com
I (Ghislain Fracapane, ed.) started playing a couple of songs alone in my bedroom about ten years ago, and then friends suggested me I recreate that music on stage.
To tell the truth, the idea of the name came to me during a party where I was a kind of drunk. I’ve always been fascinated by French jazz musicians like Bertrand Renaudin, Mark Ducret and Daniel Humair. So I decided to take a really French name like Gustave Mermonte and it simply became Mermonte.
Q2: For anyone who has never heard of you, give three reasons why they should?
It’s quite a difficult question, like someone asking for your qualities and defaults at a job interview. My music can be catalogued as pop music, which is, by definition, open to everybody. I mean, an expert in music can find subtleties, and a neophyte can just enjoy the mood.
It’s also an orchestral band with a lot of arrangements and different kinds of colours. Mermonte is the best music ever to make love to and going to a picnic to!
Q3: Tell us a little about where you’re from and how your surroundings affect the music that you create.
I live in Rennes in the Northwest of France, which is a lovely small town where many artists live. We create all kinds of music, and we influence each other in many ways.
Q4: Which other artists influence your work?
I like minimalist music like Steve Reich. His rhythms really inspire me.
I also like American Football and their guitar harmonies.
I’m influenced by The Beatles and The Beach Boys because of their arrangements. Artists like HiM (Doug Sharin) or Mulatu Astatke for their afrobeat sides. But there are many, many more.
Q5: What has been your most memorable experience of being in the band?
I think it was the first time we all played together. It’s so rewarding when nine other people are playing your music as one!
Q6: If you could organize your own dream festival which THREE acts would you choose to headline and why?
Maps and Atlases because they’ve managed to do really technical music that’s still easy to listen to. Tera Melos for their stage presence. Joan of Arc because they gave me the will to experiment in music.
Q7: What are your current plans and what are your main ambitions for the future?
Our first album was released in May in France (Les Disques Normal/Hiphiphip Records), Denmark (Father Figure Records) and in Japan (Friend of Mine Records). A French tour will follow and a couple of festivals too. Like most bands, we’d like to play as much as possible and make more albums… and may our band live forever!
Q8: Which other new acts from your country would you recommend to The NMO and its readers?
You should listen to La Terre Tremble, Jean Jean, Sport, Apes Did Ensemble, Splash Wave, Lady Jane, Unlogistic, Arch Woodman, Montgomery, Baton Rouge, Electric Electric, Fordamage, Laetitia Sheriff (and the list goes on)
For more information contact: mermonte18@gmail.com