Blick Bassy (Kameroen/Frankrijk)

A revolutionary with an angelic high voice.

Softness enforces softness. Calm breeds calm. Blick Bassy’s slightly hoarse falsetto immediately directs all attention to his voice and finally to what he has to say.

Born in Cameroon but operating from France, Bassy dedicated his latest album to his birth country’s history. Or rather, he rewrote said history. Once in a while his singing sounds angry, fierce and revolutionary. But mostly he pleads his case with his signature, angelic high vocals. Bassy’s voice makes you swoon and drift, until the essence of his message becomes clear and sinks in deep, precisely because of the beguiling delivery.

The same goes for the music, which initially sounds crisp and bright like a spring breeze, softly cradling the listener, but then turns out to have a lot going on. Fine arrangements make guitar, trombone, and cello blend into one rich, layered sound. Bassy’s many inspirations vary from traditional Cameroon music, to blues, chanson, and even a whiff of cabaret. His seemingly happy-go-lucky music tells the tale of a revolutionary, calmly and softly.

Formation

Blick Bassy – guitar, vocals
Clément Petit – cello, vocals
Johan Blanc – trombone, keys, vocals
Arno de Casanove – trumpet, keys, vocals