Garage Love

Description

From the Black Keys to the Doors, through the most garage and psychedelic rock, as well as some French singers from Gainsbourg to Bashung, Phil, Rafi, John, and Orso are determined to make themselves heard. The trance is never far away. While the name Karaboudjan immediately evokes Captain Haddock's cargo ship in Tintin, this French band does not limit itself to navigating familiar waters. Formed in 2021, the quartet (sometimes trio) has invented a musical compass that points simultaneously in two opposite directions: 1960s California and traditional Anatolia. Far from simple rock "revival," Karaboudjan offers a unique fusion. They blend the urgency of garage rock with hypnotic Eastern sounds through the use of traditional instruments. After a notable first EP, the band has refined its formula on stage, creating a kind of "opiate" trance where the riffs of the Who or the Osees seem to converse with the melodies of the desert. They sing in French, adding a touch of sometimes offbeat poetry to their wall of sound. Garage Love is a compact and euphoric success. It’s the perfect soundtrack for a road trip where the destination hasn’t been decided. The band proves here that French rock can still surprise by seeking its roots beyond American blues.