Les Négresses Vertes

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Les Négresses Vertes, formed in 1987, are a French music group who are best described as a fusion of world music and some aspects of alternative rock. Their particular musical influences were Algerian raï, Mediterranean and South American music and French café music.

Their tracks often feature accoustic guitar and accordion, as well as some tracks containing many other ‘traditional’ instruments such as piano and brass. Their style is fairly upbeat and energetic on the majority of their tracks, with unusual rhythms, vocals delivered with a generous dose of zeal and vibrant energy, and accompaniment melodies ranging from lilting and distant to eccentric and fast-paced. These two factors give many of their pieces a strong sense of direction.

HISTORY

Les Négresses Vertes arose from the alternative music scene in Paris. The original line-up included singer Helno (born Noël Rota in Paris, December 25, 1963 - January 22, 1993, also known as Helno Rota de Lourcqua), Jo Roz (also known as l’Ami Ro; real name Joe Ruffier des Aimes) (piano), Stéfane Mellino (guitar), Jean-Marie Paulus (bass), Gaby (drums), Matthias Canavese (accordion), Michel Ochowiak (trumpet), Abraham Sirinix (also known as Abraham Braham) (trombone) and Iza Mellino (backing vocals).

The original members were a group of friends, many of whom had not played their instruments before forming the band. The group’s name translates as “green black women”; it arose from abuse hurled at them at one of their first concerts.

Tagged as:

french, world, alternative, chanson francaise, latin
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Mlah
Les Négresses Vertes
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Famille nombreuse
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Trabendo
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Le Grand Dballage
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Top Tracks

1	Zobi la mouche	105
2	Face a la Mer	85
3	La valse	82
4	Sous le soleil de Bodega	71
5	Hasta llegar	49
5	Il	49
7	Face a la Mer (Massive Attack remix)	43
8	L'homme des marais	40
8	Orane	40
8	Les yeux de ton père	40
11	Voilà l'été	35
12	Famille heureuse	32
13	Hey Maria	31
14	La faim des haricots	30
15	Les rablablas les roubliblis	28

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BlackBloc wrote:
last month

superbe :)

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von7up wrote:
September 2009

Cela fait déjà longtemps que Helno est parti, mais la chaleur de ce groupe ne meurt pas.

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shaantigraphics wrote:
September 2009

The 'Mlah' album has great memories attached to it for me! Awesome band...still miss Helno. Agree with you there man-called-adam

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man-called-adam wrote:
September 2009

William orbit's remix of "Zobi la mouche" (1989) is just music heaven. Mixing the original Accordion with electronics. So ahead of its time. Lounge/chill was still in its infancy (Belearic then), Les Négresses Vertes helped start the new wave. IMO

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filpaz wrote:
July 2009

post with a song by Les Negresses on the music blog Orangeskies http://orangeskies.wordpress.com Check it out!

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Jasonastronaut wrote:
June 2009

Anyone know where I can get hold of copies of their songbook LE GRAND DEBALLAGE?

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huskerhead wrote:
April 2009

My mom showed me the "Mlah" album a while ago, awesome record.

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erduprince wrote:
April 2009

les négresses vertes and mano negra were great...absolutely great...together with three mustapha three they managed to match humor with energy, a very contagious mix that empowers people and makes them smile at the same time...i love them

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Eleima wrote:
April 2009

"Les morts *reposent* au cimetière", non? (Ca serait un peu bizarre que des morts puissent "répondre", et donc parler. Yeah, it would be kinda weird if the dead could speak and answer back!) Love this song though: "Dans la chaleur, le silence, à l’heure où les cyprès se balancent, les morts reposent au cimetière, sous le sable, face à la mer." So poetic!

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roger4 wrote:
March 2009

les morts repondent aux cimetiéres...

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rossics13 wrote:
March 2009

I saw them once at Cafe de paris in London and stood next to Jean Paul Gaultier in the toilettes. Fab gig!

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whatwillburn wrote:
February 2009

Wow Beirut and Gogol Bordello stole nothing from this band

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GCoppola wrote:
February 2009

I have never heard anything like this before. They are fantastic.

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Poprocksz wrote:
January 2009

LEEEZZ NIGGERESSSZ teehee

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Haiaxi wrote:
December 2008

great music :)

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4therecords wrote:
November 2008

C'est pas la mer à boire ! ^^

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Alcapone76000 wrote:
October 2008

Excellent groupe

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DanShopgirl152 wrote:
August 2008

Famille nombreuse is my favourite .....

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Marksluymers wrote:
July 2008

Could some direct me to good rips of Mlah and Familie Nombreuse?

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JerkChicken2008 wrote:
April 2008

Howie B is a genius for developing a totally different sound for LNV from, say, Mlah to his Trabendo, but not losing the LNV sound imho. I still listen to Trabendo today with a sense of awe at the masterpiece he, they, created.

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