Francois & The Atlas Mountains
Brother EP

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What their label says...

”Brother” was supposed to be the 3rd album
by Fránçois and the Atlas Mountains. It
never got finished. Nevertheless, that
discarded project might have had something
prodigal because word spread and Frànçois’
fans began to get more and more interested in
Brother’s fate- being even voted best
unreleased album of the year by some of
them- driving him to release “Brother EP”.
We don't know what it was that drew Frànçois
from France to Bristol in September 2003, but
since then, his creativity hasn't stopped
surprising us. Starting with bands such as
Crescent or Movietone, who have populated
his Atlas Mountains, he has written precious
songs where language blows away all
borders, this being pop made in England. It so
happens that the Frenchmen of the isles have revolutionized the style- just look at Wenger's
Arsenal passing football- and managed for the continent to be seen from the top of the old
cliffs with admiration.
“Brother EP” contains five songs and is formatted as two 7” singles: the first vinyl opens with
“The Way to the Forest”. This song starts like a breeze and ends like a breath of fresh air.
“Night Lights” featuring Markland Starkie (Sleeping States) is an unforgettable two-voices
ballad on the B-side. The second vinyl opens with “Tracey Emin”, a bubblegum texture hit
dedicated to the Turner prize winner and her installation My Bed. “Hiver” (Winter) can be
found on the same side: this is a beautiful piano piece or, if you prefer, a pulsating
watercolour from Mussorgski’s Pictures at an exhibition. The release ends with “Women
Wearing Coats” sung in French and English; a compendium of the pop freshness, melodies,
chorus, luster and captivating crescendos that impregnates the entire release.
Frànçois has got completely involved in the creation of
the artwork for this album. He has contributed two tender
and fleeting snapshots from his photo album for the
sleeve and inner sides of the folder. In addition, he has
made a Chagall style drawing for the back cover. He has
also drawn the inserts and even taken the chance to
restyle the Lejos Discos’ logo. All this highlights his
passion for painting and the plastic arts. He is now
showing watercolours in an exhibition in Bourdeaux.
Frànçois continuously paints and, like a craftsman, builds
small stop-motion movies. He also draws and makes a
photocopied zine of his diaries, ‘Livre’. One could ask
whether he is a musician that paints or a painter that
creates music.
Two months ago Frànçois moved to Glasgow, and he is
now closer to his friends from Camera Obscura, with
whom he tours regularly playing trumpet onstage. He will
be close also to his friend Katrina, from The Pastels, to
whom he dedicated a lovely song on his previous release
for Lejos Discos.