1. Algi… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least three artists which use the Algiers name:
1. Algiers is a band of musicians born in Atlanta, Georgia, the rotten hub of the Ol’ American South, where W.E.B. Dubois once saw a riot goin’ on, and where the hell and highwater swirls ‘round to the knees.
Holed up in our perches in London, New York, and a small town in France, plague up to our necks, we conjure the dead sound to life.
The click clack of the keyboard brings us to worship. The shrieks of slaves and rebels pummeling through.
Our tongues, twisted in the service of Paul Robeson, Lee Moses, Selda Bağcan, et al, slur a call in the darkness.
Algiers is the experimental gospel noise soul pulp response, slurping Francophilia - Gainsbourg and Dutronc, Saint Just and Fanon, Badiou and Baudrillard - Black Power - Nina Simone, Public Enemy, James Baldwin, Fred Hampton, DJ Premier, and Fela Kuti - and Southern Gothic - William Faulkner, Nick Cave, and Flannery O’Connor - into a stew thicker than bourguignon in the Algerian sun.
Algiers is:
Franklin James Fisher - vocals, backing vocals, guitar, bass, cello, double bass, piano, keys, sampling, wurlitzer, tambourine, percussion, drum programming
Ryan Mahan - bass, synths, baritone guitar, guitar, backing vocals, drum programming, samples
Lee Tesche - guitar, prepared guitar, prepared piano, sax, harmonium, synth, music box, tape loops, electric cymbal, backing vocals
Matt Tong - drums, guitar, glockenspiel, drones, chimes, backing vocals
http://algierstheband.com/
https://twitter.com/algiersmusic
https://www.facebook.com/Algierstheband
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2. Algiers - Not so much a country but a place. Algiers are two, spawned from two groups of more, born in Sheffield with roots which extend to Manchester and Middlesbrough.
Both on hiatus from their older musical ventures, John and William enrolled to study at university in Sheffield. A chance meeting in May 2011 led to one rehearsal which turned into 4 months of collaboration.
It would be churlish to say they’ve cherry picked the best parts of post punk pop from the last ten years. What they’ve amalgamated from their influences is something both heady and visceral. A sound that feels weightless and timeless. Reference points are far and wide with some already likening the wandering guitars and heart on sleeve vocals to everyone from Phoenix to Death Cab.
But there’s much more to these two. The ‘Four Priests’ EP is the culmination of a few months in a rehearsal room which now serves notice for something much more ; Bright futures and even brighter melodies.
www.facebook.com/wearealgiers
www.soundcloud.com/wearealgiers
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3. Algiers - is an avant-drone, experimental noise, tape manipulation, occultronics, tape music project started by Levi Berner of Portland, Oregon - USofA, who began recording as Algiers in 2007 with the release of his "Bleak Village" cassette album and Ground Tissues split release.
Berner also works under his own name as well as in or as the projects Witches, Visible/Invisible Wall and the Ratface "Salton Sea" releases in collaboration with the good folks at Basement Tapes.
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Algiers
Claudette
Algiers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To forgive you and forget
But now I'm haunted
I wanted
To forgive you and forget
But now I'm haunted
By what replaces you instead
There's no city whose end
Today is not even a ruin
As I crack a smile
While you fade to death
Oh no, Claudette
I couldn't help but crack a smile
The further you get
My darling
I'm filled with regret
Tall figures encircle us
You're staggering in red
So cold and led astray
Betrayed by the Good Place
The God Crown in their
Outstretched hands
We're forced to walk away
Then the wolves descend...
Oh Claudette
I knew you'd lead me astray
No Claudette
I don't want you to stay
Go Claudette
And drift away from the light
No Claudette
I can't keep from smiling
The lyrics to "Claudette" by Algiers are intriguing and open to interpretation, but they are seemingly about a relationship that has ended in betrayal and heartbreak. The singer wants to forgive and forget the person who hurt them, but they are haunted by the memories of what happened. The line "there's no city whose end was so lamentable as Memphis" could be a reference to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, which left a lasting impact on the city and the country.
The chorus of the song features the singer addressing Claudette directly, telling her to go away and "drift away from the light." There are also references to "tall figures" and "wolves" descending upon the singer and Claudette, hinting at some kind of danger or peril that they are facing together. Throughout the song, there is a sense of resignation and acceptance that the relationship is over, even though it hurts.
Overall, the lyrics to "Claudette" are poetic and mysterious, leaving the listener to fill in the gaps and derive their own meaning from the words.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanted
I had the desire
To forgive you and forget
To pardon your actions and move on
But now I'm haunted
But now I'm troubled
By what replaces you instead
By what replaces your presence with something else
There's no city whose end
No city's downfall
Was so lamentable as Memphis
Was as sorrowful as that of Memphis
Today is not even a ruin
Today doesn't even resemble a ruin
As I crack a smile
As I express happiness
While you fade to death
As you gradually die
Oh no, Claudette
Oh no, Claudette
I couldn't help but crack a smile
I couldn't resist the urge to smile
The further you get
The more distant you become
My darling
My dear one
I'm filled with regret
I am remorseful
Tall figures encircle us
Tall individuals surround us
You're staggering in red
You're walking unsteadily in red attire
So cold and led astray
So emotionally distant and misguided
Betrayed by the Good Place
Betrayed by a supposed good or safe environment
The God Crown in their
The divine symbol worn by them
Outstretched hands
Extended arms
We're forced to walk away
We're compelled to depart
Then the wolves descend...
Then the predators come closer
Oh Claudette
Oh Claudette
I knew you'd lead me astray
I knew you'd misguide me
No Claudette
No Claudette
I don't want you to stay
I don't want you to remain
Go Claudette
Leave Claudette
And drift away from the light
And move away from illumination
No Claudette
No Claudette
I can't keep from smiling
I can't help but smile
Writer(s): Franklin Fisher, Lee Tesche, John Mahan
Contributed by Sadie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.