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From 1997 to 2002, French avant-pop band AMOR BELHOM DUO was NAIM AMOR (vocals, guitars, violin and samplers) and THOMAS BELHOM (percussion, drums, accordion, vocals), both from Paris, France and living in Tucson, Arizona in the United States. MARIANNE DISSARD contributed her lyrics, in French and English.
Now three albums available as digital downloads here:
- Wavelab
- Amor Belhom Duo
- Any Time, Any Way
Before forming Amor Belhom Duo in Tucson, Arizona in 1997, Naim Amor and Thomas Belhom played in Paris, France in hardcore band WITCHES VALLEY. They were two of the founders of experimental musical and theatrical political avant-garde troupe GENERATION CHAOS, performing from 1992 to 1997 with contemporary music percussionist/composer Jean-Charles François and under the direction of stage and film director Marc O'.
1995
Naim meet Marianne in Paris, and visits Tucson, Arizona where she is working on the Giant Sand documentary "Drunken Bees". They immediately begin collaborating on songs, which will form the basis of the first Amor Belhom Duo album.
1996
Naim and Thomas compose the soundtrack to Marianne's French TV documentary "Low Y Cool", a collaboration with filmmaker Robert Kramer. Amor Belhom Duo's very first live show takes place, for the filming, in Nogales, Mexico.
1997
Amor Belhom Duo is formed. Relocating to Tucson, Arizona, Naïm and Thomas start collaborating with JOEY BURNS and JOHN CONVERTINO, from that other fine Tucson duo, CALEXICO.
1998
In May, AMOR BELHOM DUO records its first full-length album, WAVELAB PERFORMANCE, in Tucson at Wavelab Studio (recording home to Giant Sand, Howe Gelb, Calexico...). With that album, the Duo attempts to translate their original style of live performance onto tape, through a four days recording session. The 11 tracks album features guest performers Joey Burns and John Convertino, whom Naïm and Thomas later back up on stage, in San Francisco at the Great American Music Hall, in LA at the Troubador, in Austin at the South By Southwest Conference. WAVELAB PERFORMANCE is self-released on CD through the Duo's own label, NORMANDIE DREAM RECORDS.
1999
In May 1999 , the Duo returns from its first very successful and critically acclaimed US west coast tour (opening for Sparklehorse in San Francisco at the Great American Music Hall, playing Café du Nord in San Francisco, and clubs from Seattle to San Diego) to record its second album, the self-titled AMOR BELHOM DUO.
2000
French label ICI D'AILLEURS (home of Yann Tiersen, Married Monks, Madrid, Bed...) releases the self-titled album in Europe and label SAIDERA RECORDS in Japan.
Also out is collaborative album TETE A TETE by ABBC, i.e. AMOR-BELHOM- BURNS-CONVERTINO on WABANA RECORDS in the US, Saidera Record/Japan, Vicious Circle/France
After performing at SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2000 as music festival sponsor Tucson Weekly's regional band of choice, Amor Belhom Duo tours Europe with David Grubbs, Quentin Rollet and Noël Akchoté (label Rectangle), appearing at festivals Printemps de Bourges and Transmusicales de Rennes.
A fall 2000 european tour includes dates with Giant Sand, Calexico, the release of tour-only CD, ANY TIME ANY WAY, and the music video for title "Pulling On A Cig", directed by Marianne, appearing on French music channels MCM and M6.
2001
Invited back at SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2001, Amor Belhom Duo then heads back to Europe for a six countries tour, in support of the release by Ici d'Ailleurs of album WAVELAB (the reproduced, remixed, remastered version of the original 1998 Wavelab Performance, the Duo's first album). Later that spring, the release of albums Wavelab and Amor Belhom Duo by Chicago-based label CARROT TOP is followed by a US tour opening for labelmates Handsome Family.
2002
Amor Belhom Duo collaborates with Valerie Leulliot from French band Autour de Lucie on a live album, recorded in Tucson at Solar Culture by Jim Waters. The album, LIVE IN TUCSON, is released by Ici D'Ailleurs in Europe. Amor Belhom Duo opens for French pop star MIOSSEC in France and disbands after that tour.
NAIM and THOMAS start solo careers, under their respective names and on respective sides of the Atlantic, while MARIANNE begins singing, recording her debut album, "L'Entredeux", with Joey Burns of Calexico.
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