“No, the so-called regional languages are not doomed to exclusively interpret couvertures and gavottes. Proof with the Occitan rock group CXK” we could read recently in Express. The duo will be on Metronomeroom Toulouse, present “Castèls dins la Luna” their new album, recorded in Chicago with the producer Nirvanademanding (and regretful) Steve Albini !
The story of CXK starts in 2017when Pauline Courtialguitarist and singer from Aveyron and immersed in Occitan since birth, decided to form a group with a drummer Dimitri Koganesharing their passion for raw and edgy music. In their first album, CXK described themselves as “Peasants from Rouergue lost in the California desert”with musical philosophy summarized in a succinct formula: “Guitar, drum and let’s go!”
“The energy and authenticity of their sound…”
Today, their approach has become more complex, deeper. Pauline “explores the modal harmonies of the coquetry with dissonances in her voice and his.” guitar. Dimitri deconstructs the clichés of binary rock drumming.” Their meeting with Steve Albini, the living legend of Nirvana and American punk, led by Yves Roussel for overcomingit took place “spontaneous and bright.”
For CXKworking with Albini, known for his raw and minimalist approach to recording, “they captured the essence of their music without pretensions. The recording was done live, without a computer, on tape, which preserved the energy and authenticity of their soundas well as the incredible virtuosity of their interpretations.”
This second album reflects the diversity and awareness of their Occitan lyricswhich turns out the language sounds unusually close to Englishallowing them “to express the urgency of their awareness in the face of the violence of the modern world and to draw on the collective memory of millennial emotions to address current issues.”
It all starts with February 24, 2022
Recorded live, analog, these thoughtful, elaborate and rehearsed songs are delivered raw. It all starts with February 24, 2022 (February 24, 2022), the Russian invasion of Ukraine begins. “You can clearly feel the sound of the boots in this song, thanks to Dimitrije’s strong drumming”, while the song plays with the wounds of the Slavic soul, in Occitan. A language that has also experienced the violence of invasion and persecution.
As Mélanie Bauer writes, “it’s from a Grand Bailerlunar with its dazzling effects on the guitars, yet telluric in its rhythm, to be the last stone of this one Castèls dins la Lunaa record that cares about the madness of people, the great architects of castles on the moon…”
CXK they will be in Nîmes (Gard) on June 7 and Bours (Hautes-Pyrénées) on June 8.in Saint-Affrique (Aveyron) on June 21, etc. Before the big meeting in Carhaix (Finistère) for the famous meeting Old CharruesJuly 14!
Ph.-M.
CXK In Toulouse: MetronomeThursday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m., with the group Lysistrata AND Princess of Thailand. Ticket sales: https://billetterie.festik.net/noiser/product/lysisstrata-et-princess-thailand-et-cxk-or-le-metronum/
Other meetings in Occitania:
THE Larsen Festival in Montlaur (Haute-Garonne)
THE Larsen Festival returns for the 17th edition, on Saturday, May 25 in Montlaur (La plaine des sports, chemin des Feuillets-2 pm to 11 pm). Free and open-air, Larsen is a traveling cross-community festival, co-organized by the structures for youth, childhood and CLAS from Sicoval, in partnership withAssociation Musical Assault. This event aims to enable young musicians (amateurs or
professionals) regardless of their musical style to perform on stage in front of an audience. It is also an opportunity for young volunteers passionate about music
to be actors of the event by participating in its organization.
This year from 3:30 p.m.concert of Kzic’kids, the Escalquens College Choir and eight concerts that will take place on two stages of the Festival! Featured for this 17th edition: HYLToulouse-based rapper awarded the Claude Nougaro Writing Prize; Sound mess (Rock) – Oley (Rap) – Snakes in boots (Rock/grunge/post-punk) – Acheron (Metal core) – Space J (Pop rock) – sea lion (folk/alternative) – Lucky Rock (Rock). More information: https://www.festival-larsen.fr/
Notes and words, in the Abbey of Saint-André (Gard)
National edition from 2024 Meet in the gardens has a theme “Five senses in the garden”. A theme that the Abbey of Saint-André readily accepted, providing for two days, June 1 and 2, a sensory experience intended for all ages. Starting with a twirling botanical concert “How flowers sow” with Emma Daumas (which appeared on TF1 during star academy) on vocals and Laurent Derobert on the guitar, whose audience will follow the notes and words through the paths until together they plant the right seeds in the wild corner of the garden.
Saturday evening will be sung poetry baritone and cellist Pierre-François Lamiraud especially from the Surrealist collection Chantflowers Robert Desnos, who will continue this naturalistic singing.
“How flowers sow”Sunday, June 2 at 4 p.m. with reservation at 04 90 25 55 95 or at info@abbayesaintandre.fr – Chantflowers,withSaturday, June 1, 7 p.m., with reservation and payment, price: €25 (€20 for Pass holders). Online ticket sales here.
Festival of old music in Maguelone (Hérault)
Like every June, cathedral of sand from Maguelone (Hérault) will rest its vaults on the program of excellence, created by Sylvain Sartre. On the program (from June 4 to 15) Elizabethan tunes by Byrd or Dowland with Sweet voicesa trip to Bach’s imaginary Italy with a harpsichordist Benjamin Allardat the heart of the inspiration of the master from Leipzig, the velvet of the countertenor’s voiceAlexander Chanceclean and carnal, accompanied Shadows serving English and Italian melodies that dream of Venice, the discreet virtuosity of soloists on oboe and bassoon withBlower set directed Gabriel Pidoux.
To find out everything: https://www.musiqueancienamaguelone.com/