François Marry – a multi-talented songwriter, musician, animator and artist, hailing from Saintes, a small town on the west coast of France.
At the age of 19, François travelled over to the UK, and quickly became involved in the Bristol scene, joining the line-ups of Movietone (Domino) and Crescent (FatCat).
After a few months he started playing a number of his own shows, garnering notable support slots (including Juana Molina, Gravenhurst, Patrick Wolf, Panda Bear, Electrelane) and assembling an ever-changing band of players called `The Atlas Mountains` – whose cast has included Rachael Dadd (Angel`s Egg), and fellow Fence Records artist Rozi Plain.
His third album, the stunning Plaine Inondable, was released in Europe on Talitres.
press quotes:
"A tour de force of French pop eccentricity, adding African rhythms and massed folk vocals to the chanson mix.
François Marry now lives in Bristol but was born in Saintes, on the west coast of France. Listening to his third album, you`d put money on it being a small town: this is lyrical to the point of feyness, charmingly eccentric and has that DIY, only-romantic-poet-in-the-village glamour that makes you think of a Gallic version of The Divine Comedy.
The more obvious reference is Serge Gainsbourg, though, not just for the nationality but also for the excellent use of a curious voice and canny co-opting of whatever music takes his fancy. Thus, while much of this is in the theatrical French chanson tradition, 'Remind' brings in a churning Malian guitar figure and `Do You Do` features chanting by Basque femal vocal group Bost Gehio. On standout track 'Be Water' he puts the lot together, his enigmatic half-spoken lead backed by a sunshiney pop-gospel choir and a rhythm that could be from the Ethiopiques compilation. Bravo, as they say in Saintes. " -WORD magazine - JANUARY 2010
"Discovering Francois is like being let in on a wonderful indie pop secret, and his twee, pretty melodies are something you’ll only want to share with a select few. Since arriving in the UK from France a few years ago, Francois has become a staple part of the Bristol music scene and even been a touring member of Camera Obscura.
His third album, Plaine Inondable, marks a departure from the homemade character of his first two, eschewing the casiotones and xylophones for a more professional sound and sophisticated arrangements. He`s lost none of his charm in the process, mixing English and French lyrics seamlessly and with the same subtle emotion." -CLASH MAGAZINE - December 2009