After an arduous tour, Noir Désir found themselves in a delicate situation once again. Cantat's vocal cords were overused, bassist Vidalenc was exhausted, and the band's future looked bleak. But Noir Désir knew how to turn obstacles into advantages. New bassist Jean Paul Roy asserted himself within the group through his solidity and brought more balance to the lineup. As for Cantat, who had lost his voice, he underwent surgery followed by rehabilitation, which led the singer to revolutionize his vocal technique. The subtlety of his voice and the sharpness of the lyrics took precedence over the omnipresent vociferations of "Tostaky." In the end, Noir Désir, still under the guidance of Ted Niceley, gained serenity. A tranquility displayed by the blue sky on the album cover, yet contrasted by a cloud with a hexagonal appearance. For "666.667 Club" highlighted the occidentalist nature of France and its inherent excesses. "666.667 Club" opens with an instrumental track embellished with vocal incantations. With the first appearance of jazz saxophonist Akosh S., the track introduced a new facet of the band. A Noir Désir uninhibited by rock clichés and open to other cultures. This was followed by more politicized tracks than ever before. They denounced the Front National ("Un jour en France"), or overconsumption preventing genuine individual freedom ("Fin de siècle"). To funky music, they offered a version of the contemporary proverb: time is money ("L'homme pressé"), thus prophesying the downfall of their boss J2M. Complemented by the reference to Subcomandante Marcos ("A ton étoile"), these tracks cemented Noir Désir's reputation as a politically engaged band, a label that would stick with them. And the public followed, seduced by these pamphlets and appealing melodies that made "666.667 Club" an album of hits and recognition. They won two Victoires de la Musique awards: best group and best song for "L'homme pressé." While rock dominated "666.667 Club" ("Comme elle vient," "Prayer for a wanker"), as was their custom, Noir Désir alternated energetic songs with slower ones. From the enchanting "Lazy" and "Septembre, en attendant," to the lyrical gems "Ernestine" and "A la longue," Noir Désir revealed their full sensitivity. To conclude this monument of French rock, a hidden track paid tribute to Gun Club leader Jeffrey Lee Pierce, who passed away during the album's recording. Cantat's convalescent vocal cords relied on Teyssot-Gay's incandescent strings for a tortured acoustic blues, reflecting the man who inspired Noir Désir's trajectory. Anthony Triaureau - Copyright 2017 Music Story
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