On October 18, Geoffoy D. is visiting Budapest. Meanwhile, memories of Dernière Volonté's performance at Deutzen still linger in the air. With songs such as "Les partisans", "Au travers des lauriers", "Les rêves de Dorian" and "En Espagne", the band presented a cross-sectional setlist from a quarter of a century of presence on stage
Author: Magda Z.
September 7, at 10.30 p.m. Dusk falls, the trees bathed in blood-red light cast shadows like specters. The intimate Kulturbühne stage in the park transforms into a surreal scenery, perfect for stories about war, longing and loss. The air thickens with anticipation as two gentlemen from Dernière Volonté take the stage.
Geoffroy D.'s persona is both extravagant and enigmatic. Dressed in a military jacket, standing straight at attention, wearing aviator sunglasses, he exudes cool detachment. After a while, amidst enthusiastic applause, the frontman is ready to charge into the whirlwind of sounds.
We hear "Les partisans (lettre ouverte)" from the project's first album, the now 26-year-old "Obéir et mourir" (Obey and Die). My attention is drawn to the unusual snare drum sticks attached to the belt on the chest. Finished with metal, in darkness they sparkle with patinated gold. This reminds me of the bullet-cases I used to collect, found among the treasures hidden in Masurian lakes, remnants of the bygone era of East Prussia.
He's dead, ma'am, dead and buried.
I saw him being lowered to the ground by four officers.
One hold his breastplate, the other his shield.
One held a great sword, the other a steed […].
A nightingale sang on the highest branch
His soul was flying among laurels.
Notes of next songs mix with the rustle of bloody leaves, as if the essence of the past from the song lyrics emerged ominously from their shadows. Geoffroy sings "Au travers des lauriers" from "Devant le miroir" (2006), on which he took a new path of musical expression, weaving the martial style and pathos into lighter, electronic melodies. This evening, fans will enjoy other songs from this album, such as "L'ombre des réverbères" , "Douce hirondelle" and "La nuit revient" , clearly beloved by the audience.
Then comes "Mon orage" (note: not an orange, but a storm), from the album "Immortel" (2010), which is considered a bit controversial by some. What makes this song stand out are the sultry samples, sublime organ and subtle high key vocals. Although I generally prefer deep masculine timbres characteristic for martial and neofolk genres - especially Kim Larsen's or Jerome Reuter's voice - I think that Geoffroy sounds very good in high octave. The delicate voice contrasts with his dignified presence, which makes him an original and intriguing artist.
After the mysterious, highly synthetic "Je tuerai qui tu voudras" ("Mon meilleur ennemi", 2012), there is another round of applause - to the well-known and liked "Les rêves de Dorian" (2016). Mid-tempo drums, choral vocals, impressive organ as if straight from a cathedral. The crowd sways to the beat as Geoffroy D. spins romantic-heroic stories.
I'd like to honour the skillful and friendly-looking drummer, Geoffroy's constant companion at concerts. Andy Julia, known from the gothic project Soror Dolorosa , plays very precisely, even stylizing movements in rhythmic beats, which adds additional charisma to the performance.
During the concert, fans of the sounds of war marches and the smell of gunpowder are treated to an unexpected twist. Nonchalantly, Geoffroy lights a cigarette and inhales, as if pausing for a moment of contemplation in the middle of a musical charge.
With "Je parlerai du noir" (Frontière, 2019), I hide behind the scenes to absorb a song with lyrics that touch me personally. For people who do not know French lyrics (Geoffroy D. sings in this language), Dernière Volonté may not necessarily be associated with gloom - especially since the albums released in the first years of the 21st century - due to the mentioned lightness of the composition leaning towards synthpop . "Je parlerai du noir" is certainly disturbing though - a whispered, oneiric, stimulating emotion story about finding solace in the face of tragedies in the world.
Children starved, stolen, raped,
sold, I won't talk about it...
No, I won't say anything that would hurt me...
About what makes me rebel and what I feel
I won't talk about it, everything becomes trivial
And the smell of death and the color of blood
I will talk about you.
Let me add that the "Frontière" album is decorated with a beautiful cover, which may be associated with computer graphics created by Zdzisław Beksiński, whom the artist appreciates (which should please Polish fans).
More melodies resound, the poetic "L'eau froide", "En Espagne" and "La nuit revient" left for last . The initially rapturous crowd is now having a great time. Just 'Entracte' , 'Douce hirondelle' and the concert is over.
About the band: Dernière Volonté (French for Last Will) is a project founded by Geoffroy D. Initially, the band's music was rooted in martial industrial, focusing on atmosphere, rhythm and historical samples. Later albums oscillate towards a military (synth)pop aesthetic, based on a rhythmic verse-chorus structure and clearer melodic lines. The frontman is also known for the Position Parallèle and Blastercorps projects.
Setlist: "Les partisans (lettre ouverte)", "La source Au travers des lauriers", "L'ombre des réverbères" "L'eau froide", "Mon mercenaire", "Mon orage", "Je tuerai qui tu voudras ", "Les rêves de Dorian", "Je parlerai du noir", En Espagne", "La nuit revient", 'Entracte', "Douce hirondelle".
Follow Dernière Volonté :
https://www.facebook.com/dernierevolonte
NCN Festival: https://www.ncn-festival.de/
