Frank Darcel could have settled for the rare status of an elegant historical monument of French rock. His pedigree speaks for itself: Marquis de Sade, Octobre, Senso, his trilogy of successive Rennes-based bands paved the way, since cleared by others. He also played guitar on Etienne Daho's first album, then produced "Le Grand Sommeil" and "La Notte La Notte." Other albums he subsequently produced, for Alan Stivell, or in Portugal for GNR and Paulo Gonzo, earned him gold records on his kitchen wall. Having become a publisher and novelist, Darcel nevertheless couldn't resist the urge to pick up his Gibson again in the 2010s to form Republik. After a first EP, "I Thought War Was Over," a few concerts, and casting adjustments, the band found its raison d'être with a solid team (Eva Montfort on bass, Federico Climovitch, Stéphane Kerihuel on guitar) and a deeply felt first album. Between some prestigious concerts, at Les Transmusicales, then with Etienne Daho during key dates of his Diskönoir tour, Republik recorded "Elements" in Brittany, Belgium, and New York. A sprawling and haunted album adorned with veins drawn by the band's guests. A prestigious cast that includes Yann Tiersen on violin, Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz, the legendary rhythm section of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, James Chance, another mythical New Yorker, No Wave icon (whose last album Darcel also produced), Wendy James (Transvision Vamp), Christian Dargelos (Marquis de Sade, Les Nus) and accomplices Yann Le Ker (Modern Guy, Lio.) and Xavier "Textino" Géronimi (Bashung, Daho, Indochine.) on sharp guitars. But, if this refined assembly constitutes the mica flakes that decorate Republik's granite, the driving force that runs through this album comes from the remarkable cohesion that binds the four members of this band, pushing them, together and compact, into the trenches of a rock built on guitars and lyricism. Twelve tracks sung in English, German, and French by Frank Darcel, who reveals himself to be full of emotion in the exercise. A brilliant first chapter of what we hope will be a long saga, "Elements" restores rock to its primal meaning: both thoughtful and raw, sensitive and direct. Songs sculpted to exist live, all with dark and captivating moods and atmospheres. On its intertwining guitars, misty moors, threatening twilight, proud cities emerge, but also the moments of serenity of a literary rock, looking towards Faulkner as much as towards Anatole Le Braz. The sum of the "Elements" constituting the Whole, it is time, now, to surrender to the sound of Republik, before the hour of the Ankou strikes.
Amazon
eBay
Rare Vinyl
