Botanical Nights 2004: sacred Belgians

The cultural center of the French Community of Belgium (1) was full to the brim yesterday. "Sold out" as they say in Brussels, for a new "Sacred Belgians" evening.

(B2) Nearly 3000 people in the aisles of the Botanique. In the four rooms - the Orangerie, the Rotunda, the Museum and the Greenhouses in the garden - the latest musical irruptions by some 20 groups from Wallonia and Brussels weave the new soundscape for the years to come. With no other headliners than those from the land of valleys and plains, it's a real treat. The ticket at 10 euros for the whole evening is not for nothing in this success. But the quality of the new Belgian scene is no longer to be denied. Led by Girls in Hawaii, Sharko, Jeronimo and Ghinzu, whose success is growing day by day, many groups find their own way. With a quality: one success does not eclipse the other but on the contrary reinforces it. And one regret: most have chosen English to express themselves, losing the richness of a language in the process.

Electro, pop, rock, song, there is not really a style that can characterize this new generation located between 20 and 30 years old. Otherwise a certain irony which often marks the texts, the use of samplers, and, above all, the taste for showing oneself in public, without deception, but with drums and trumpets. " I strongly believe in this return of stage performances, the stage regains its preponderant place and that's good " Explain Jeronimo. After a tour that brought him into contact with Indochina, Cali or Tarmack, Jerôme Mardaga, whose real name was, who two years ago was still a complete stranger, has attracted an interest in his name that is no longer just that of discovery but of a real troop of fans. Even the security guards indulge in loudly resuming his hit "My wife is cheating on me". He did not let himself be intoxicated or put to sleep by his first victories. On the contrary. The rhythm sounds even more rock than at the beginning. The guitar and the bass, led brilliantly by Sacha Symon, slam under the greenhouse. The news is present sometimes. In his now customary revival of the I'm afraid of Americans of Bowie which gives in French "I'm afraid of Americans", he thus interposes a "Damn it's really good to be European" by Arno, taken up in chorus by the crowd. Jeronimo can then deliver the first nuggets of a future album, which should be released in the fall: "It must be that it shines", "to leave", an instrumental, and above all "all the people you love must die one day. The new Belgian vein? Jeronimo believes in it." In fact, we can say that. But we must not delude ourselves. These are groups that have been around for a long time. Shadow work just ends up paying off ».

A typical example of this, Cloe du Clover. Now alone on stage – she has, in fact, abandoned her group Clovers Cloé – this young woman in her twenties loves attention. Even the curious who poked their heads around the room, just to listen, stay. Subjugated. Alternately on the keyboard or on the guitar, accompanied from time to time by a violinist, she might seem at first glance a little clumsy, unsure. Error ! As soon as the voice is heard, the first notes have flown, Cloé takes the insurance and delivers the pleasure of a moment, small, tender pieces of life. "Before madness takes me", "Encounter of the Xth type""Funny scenario"...she goes on with irrational attraction, love, fiasco, scenarios that turn out well or fail. A kind of feminine Delerm. " I don't like being stuffed in a drawer — she explains —. But if I had to define myself, I would say that I am a young lady who tells stories and fits melodies. My songs talk a lot about encounters, small feelings about everyday things. » Her musical influences are, as she admits, " very varied : I also listen to classical (Prokoviev, Chopin), old jazz stuff like Nina Simone or Aretha Franklin or singers in the German vein like Lali Puna ". With the help of a sampler and a video, she abandoned the English of her beginnings to express herself in French. A success even if it was not always easy for her. " It was a challenge indeed to tell it differently — explains Cloé —. French is more difficult, the lyrics must not be too down to earth, it must be too kitsch, find a happy medium ».

To end the evening, a visit to pink satellite imposes itself. Olivier Désir and Cédric de Bruyn have indeed decided to add a few musicians in the flesh in front of their machines. Brass, guitar and bongos thus merge with the instrumental pieces of the two friends, from Huy (near Liège). As a result, the atmosphere has diversified. We move away from very lounge atmospheres to approach more spicy rhythms, pop-rock or bossa.

Nicolas Gros-Verheyde - In Brussels for Rfi Music

(1) The French Community is one of the official components of the Belgian State, in charge of education and culture, alongside the regions (Wallonia, Brussels, Flanders) more specifically responsible for economic issues. There are two other communities (Flemish, Germanic) corresponding to the other linguistic groups.

Discography:

• Jeronimo "A world without me" (Capitol/EMI) 2003
• Cloé du clover "Sapristi" (Black Coffee / Distrisound) 2004
• Pink Satellite "electrolidays in levitation" (Bang/Wagram) 2001 and "e-closer" 2003