SONIC EXPOSURE :: Les Limbes

“We try to make the best and most sincere music we can…”

Raw, furious energy

Les Limbes is the project of Arnaud Sigonney (guitar/piano), Yoann Roy (bass), Daniel Guerin (guitars), Julien Favreau (drums), and Nicolas Pointeau (keyboards/samples). Hailing from France, Les Limbes is one of the latest additions to the ever eclectic roster of artists of Australia-based independent record label and publisher Hidden Shoal. Armed with a post-metal attitude and refreshing post-rock pyrotechnics, and drawing inspiration both from the old but timeless and current but not trendy, these guys are about to release their debut, self-titled EP later this month. The four tracks on the EP pulse and strike with raw, furious energy. Subterranean basslines throb and roll forward fiercely, assertive guitar whirlwinds saw and hypnotize, drums pound robustly, keyboard sounds decorate from above. All these elements assemble thick, multilayered, inflammatory and infectious walls of sound infused with the intensity of a live performance. Hopefully, this is just the beginning for Les Limbes, and soon we’ll hear greater things from them.

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The story?

Arnaud :: Well, the band actually started to play a year and a half ago. We’re based in Bordeaux, south west France. Sure you already heard from our hometown for its wine…hahaha !! Most of us used to play together in a band called OST. Unfortunately, OST had to part ways after continuous arguments without possibility of reconciliation. Daniel, Julien and myself, felt that our common musical way wasn’t over yet, so we decided to look for new musicians to work with and work on new material. Yoann joined the band on the fall of 2013 and deep changes happened in music, organization of work and relationship. Some things had to be reconsidered and in this four-piece band form we finally managed to compose and arrange music the way we really wanted. Les Limbes was on. Nicolas finally came to complete the band and bring the last brick on the wall a few months ago. After the recording of our first four-track EP, I sent the music to Cam from Hidden Shoal as we kept in touch over the years after an old collaboration we had for a former band. We were quite lucky enough to catch Cam’s attention and found him enthusiastic and motivated to work with us. We feel very happy with that and hope to keep on working with him for our next recordings.

Sound & style?

Yoann :: Let us answer to this question asking a question…how would YOU describe our music? Haha no joke. You know what, we’ve been talking for hours trying to explain and find genre terms to describe our music but we never succeed to find something that really suited. When the first concerts came, we had to find something to say to the venues and organizers. As we’re an exclusive instrumental band playing a sort of atmospheric rock music, it seemed that post-rock was the most appropriate word. The thing is that we don’t feel like playing one king of music. Nowadays, too many bands play music as if they had to choose a side. One kind of music with one sound, one way….we definitely don’t feel comfortable with that. We’re children of the 90’s when everything was mixed up, and every new kind of music was a new way, and a bridge to another one. We listen so many things, enjoy so many different kinds of music, production etc…so how could we define our style and sound properly? We would say that we try to make the best and most sincere music we can with influences ranging from psychedelic 70’s rock (Pink Floyd/Magma/King Crimson…) to electronic music, traveling through classical and alternative hybrid pop rock culture (Radiohead/Portishead/NIN…).

The debut EP?

Yoann :: Our first and new EP is coming out in a few days via Hidden Shoal. We think this four-track recording is a good way to introduce our musical mood, a first shot to show what the band is about. Concerning the artwork, as for the sound production (we managed the mixing and mastering by ourselves) we wanted to get something sober and organic, very natural. That’s why we chose to work with French photograph Pierre Deyris. We love his work a lot, the lights, textures, we think there’s a link between his shots and a certain atmosphere in movies like ‘The Virgin Suicides’ from Sofia Coppola. This kind of art moves us and this is an inspiration for our music. We are quite satisfied with the EP. We’re constantly improving as a band and as musicians though, and hopefully this EP is a harbinger of even better things to come. We are always excited to explore new possibilities and directions.

In the works?

Arnaud :: We are currently working on new songs and hope everything will come out sooner or later. At this time it is just impossible to say how and when exactly. We are always working on new songs, material, arrangements etc… but we don’t know if it will turn into an album, another EP or whatever…right now we focus on rehearsing and giving good concerts for the release of the EP. We have a little tour in France and we’re quite excited to get to the road. This is the first step. Then we will talk and try to organize the future.

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Les Limbes‘ debut EP will be released via Hidden Shoal on April 17. Listen to the opening track, “Hypersonic” below.