Cascadeur: Acoustic

Another edition of the TV5 Monde music show Acoustic at the weekend, and a particularly strong edition of
the program with a session by Cascadeur.

Songs included Walker, from his last album The Human Octopus, and Ghost Surfer from his most recent release of the same name that came out earlier this year.

There's something very surreal about seeing him performing in full crash helmet.  Somehow you presume the "masked performer" is the reserve of the metal/rock scene, whether Slipknot, Kiss or Alice Cooper.



It certainly adds a stange and otherworldly quality to his rather sensitive piano-driven work.

The helmet and the Mexican wrestler masks suggest something confrontational and aggressive, it couldn't be more of a illusion.

Review: Cascadeur: Ghost Surfer

Cascadeur is one of France's most distinctive vocalists, his 2011 debut firmly establishing him as one of the
country's most promising artists.

His follow up - Ghost Surfer - released this month up secures that reputation. His voice both affecting and powerful,  standing comparison to the likes of Anthony Heggarty, Neil Young or Robert Wyatt.

The album was preceded by the single Ghost Surfer, a song I felt initially a bit disappointed by. I liked it, but didn't love it. But given time the song gradually crept in and took up residence.

The album is an assured work, by an artist confident about his vision and certain about how to realise it. His voice rightly takes centre stage, even amidst lush arrangements, whether in French or English and even in wordless tracks like Dark Passenger.

For all he wears his helmet or Mexican mask concealing his face, Alexandre Longo lets his voice reveal more about his personality. Emotional but also playful as well, sensitive but also powerful.

There's art and beauty here, but he never lets that get in the way of a good pop song.

Appearances by Stuart A Staples from The Tindersticks on The Crossing and French veteran Christophe on Collector add elements to the picture, but don't distract from the overall work

Looking here for something that matches the immediate jaw-dropping wonder that was Walker off his debut? Report to The Crossing immediately.  And beyond that, there is much to listen to repeatedly and enjoy for the long term.

Ghost Surfer looks like it will be one of 2014's key releases.

Cascadeur: Ghost Surfer

A new clip for the track Ghost Surfer by Cascadeur, ahead of the release of his new album next month.

The track Ghost Surfer emerged last year, and I liked it then, and indeed the video that initially accompanied it, but this new clip adds a touch of humour.

I wonder if Cascadeur, or Alexandre Longo as his passport would have it, will be this year's masked French artist to enjoy mainstream international success in the wake of Daft Punk?

It follows the release of his debut The Human Octopus, which came out in 2011.

His debut saw him nominated for the Prix Constantin in 2011, and songs like Walker established him as a  memorable artist with a voice as unforgettable as his striking  image.

Cascadeur has a series of live dates across France from next month and the album's released on Febuary the third.