JUSTICE BE DONE!
French Touch band Justice became a musical phenomenon from the very beginning. Parisians Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay formed their electronic duo in 2003 and have built a reputation that allows them to be worthy successors to Daft Punk, who hung up their headphones in 2021.
Both graphic designers, their first maxis established their identity with the help of Pedro Winter, founder of the Ed Banger label. "Never Be Alone" was their first song played on dance floors, joined by "We Are Your Friends" published by Virgin Records. DJ sets followed one after the other and Justice achieved public recognition by remixing songs by Fatboy Slim, Daft Punk and Britney Spears and preparing a new maxi that would revolutionize all the nightclubs worldwide: "DANCE". It opened the doors of festivals including the famous Coachella in the United States and the album "Cross" propelled Gaspard and Xavier to the top of electro. The cover illustrates a Catholic cross which became their trademark while the members of Justice were the first French people to integrate the soundtrack of a video game (Grand Theft Audio with the title "Waters of Nazareth"). At this time, a controversy swelled concerning the video clip "Stress" stigmatizing suburban youths who resort to violence. The band makes it clear that it is mainly a correlation between sound and image as the song increases in intensity.
Their career was launched and several studio albums were released. "Audio, Video, Disco" in 2011, which can be translated as "I hear, I see, I learn," had a very heavy sound but was probably more accessible than its predecessor. Less aggressive, the atmospheres were varied (including choirs and a hidden track), and success was there. In 2016, "Woman" was released by Because with a cosmic side that suggested they were taking minimal risks for maximum gain... it was difficult to reinvent themselves in disco, even if "Heavy Metal" was a success and Giorgio Moroder oozed from the album. Last year, Justice returned to inventiveness by releasing "Hyperdrama," where we find the intensity of the beginnings with collaborations from Tame Impala, The Flints, Rimon and remarkable tracks called "Generator," "Neverender," and "One Night / All Night." Simplicity is good and this album confirms the dominant status of the group which exudes partying including a maximum of featurings.
ARKEA ARENA
I had the chance to attend the Paris-Bercy concert last December and the firepower captivated me. The opening acts (including Kavinsky) immediately set the mood for a show closer to a giant nightclub than a concert. Because there's a dilemma! Is it a concert or a show? Used to the classic singer / guitar / bass / drums, seeing Justice live is a different experience and the bad tongues might think that the guys arrive with their USB stick, press "play" and off they go for 1 hour 40 minutes!
As the late Gérard Collomb said, the protagonists are no longer "side by side" but "face to face" on stage, unlike on previous tours. The show at Arkea Arena is musically identical to the Parisian performances, except for a few visual adaptations due to the configuration of the venue. It must be said that the staging is so qualitative that there is no room for improvisation! The spectators will be amazed by the sights and the ears, and I have rarely seen such power deployed! From "Genesis" in the introduction to "Phantom Part II" in the finale, Justice delivers progressive blows to the audience, who can only be won over. The recent "Mannequin Love" (with an excerpt from the acclaimed "We Are Your Friends") and "Incognito" (which sounds like a soundtrack) are played alongside the hit "DANCE" before the encore. The highlight of this concert will remain the incredibly successful version of "Stress." A visual and sound performance to the delight of the people of Bordeaux gathered inside the arena.
The sound has never been so good and that's the advantage I give to the local performance rather than the Parisian show, the quality of the room and a feeling of "closeness" impossible at a festival. Still, Justice recently won a new Grammy Award at the 67th ceremony for the best dance / electro title with "Neverender". A clear sign that we must count on this classy duo who rock in concert - show - discotheque ... they leave Arkéa Arena waving to the crowd but without saying a word, a shame.
Diego OnTheRocks
