“Daddy, what is pop?” This is a question that you’re sure to hear some day. In fact, you can count on it. But what will you say? You’ll talk about the White Album. You’ll mention The Kinks. You’ll probably take your kid to London and Liverpool. And Manchester. You’ll talk to him about The Zombies. You’ll repeat over and over that the melody is everything. And you’ll make him listen religiously to The Man From Peru. 

Franz is Dead comes to life in 2009 as the brainchild of Laurent Blot, multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer and singer. A few mini-albums (“Ah-Leu-Cha”, “Satan”, “Monkey Mask Replica”), a handful of singles… And then blast-off. He decides to release a new track each week and compile his creations. While France searches for its pop artisans, he grows to the point of becoming an artist worthy of his idols. Today, The Man From Peru gives us a little more proof that pop can be “made in France”. 

The album demands respect. Laurent explains that it “got its name because everyone thinks I’m from Peru, so I decided to go with the joke”. “Crosses On Fire” immediately sets the tone in under three minutes. Laurent talks about his daughter (“Ladybug”), vain celebrity (“Famous”), revolt (“Fight Together”) and everywhere and all the time about love (“In The Rain” and, especially, “Tambourine”, one of the greatest songs in recent years or more). The instruments are vintage, but the songs are firmly rooted in today’s era. Better yet, they enhance it. Here, it’s not about nostalgia. But, like all musicians, Laurent started out as a fan above all. You can catch a glimpse of his masters in a riff, an image, a rhyme. The Strokes, Iggy, Keith and Mick. But also Nancy and Lee. Elvis. Paul, John, George and even Ringo. 

“Daddy, what is pop?” Pop is the very essence of music. Pop is everywhere and has been for decades. Pop, kiddo, is a way of doing things with love and respect. Finally, and most importantly, pop is all about melodies. Ones that make you want to cry, laugh, live. Pop, my son, is the first album by Franz Is Dead. Nothing short of beauty."


Nico Pratt
(Translation / B. Silverstone)

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