The band was founded in 1982 in Angers, France by singer/keyboardist Denis Péan and Richard Bourreau (violin/kora). These two have remained central to Lo'Jo throughout their history. For several years, with a rotating cast of members, they played events locally, working with acrobats, street theatre, mime, dancers and film as part of their overall presentation. They have subsequently maintained a communal lifestyle, based in Angers.
By the end of the 1980s, they were playing throughout Europe and had appeared in New York as part of an artists' collective. Including Nicholas 'Kham Meslien (bass) and Matthieu Rousseau (drums) (later replaced by Franck Vaillant), they consolidated their line-up, and their first album, Fils de Zamal, was released in 1993. In 1995 the group added Berber singer/saxophonist Yamina Nid El Mourid and her sister, Nadia Nid El Mourid, who brought a strong North African influence to the music. In 1996, the new lineup recorded Sin Acabar, and 1997 saw them complete Mojo Radio, both with English producer Justin Adams. Upon the latter's release they found more acclaim in the world music community, getting them on the WOMAD circuit.
In 1999, they journeyed to Bamako, Mali, to begin work on Bohème de Cristal. While in Mali, they became involved in the organization of the Desert Music Festival held in January 2001. They have also collaborated with a wide variety of musicians, including Tinariwen.
In 2002 they released the acclaimed Au Cabaret Sauvage (originally issued in France as L'une des Siens). This was followed by a live album Ce Soir Là (2003), and a new studio album Bazar Savant (2006). In 2009 they released the album Cosmophono, and toured in the UK.
Discography
Studio:
1990 The International Courabou
1993 Fils de Zamal
1994 G7 of Destruction & Artisans of Peace
1996 Sin Acabar
1998 Mojo Radio
2000 Bohême de cristal
2002 L'une des siens
2006 Bazar savant
2009 Cosmophono
2012 Cinéma el Mundo
Other:
1989 Depuis très longtemps (K7)
1995 Le disque dort (33 tours)
2003 Ce soir là... (Live)
2007 Tu connais LO'JO ? (Best of)
Website (Bandinfo): http://www.lojo.org/
Facebooksite: http://www.facebook.com/lojomusic
MusicBrainz:http://musicbrainz.org/artist/a1c1fb23-38e0-4d7f-8fed-3c81fef5ad0f
Petit homme
Lo'Jo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Où l'on mangeait dans les cauris,
De l'époque de la philosophie,
L'homme-goutte haut comme trois dattes,
Gardien silencieux de l'équilibre.
Petit homme la lenteur patinée de terre rouge,
Petit homme-l'eau humant la falaise,
Petit homme-l'eau patiné de terre rouge
Gardien-ange armé de la badine à six fougères,
Disperseur de nuées d'enfants rieurs.
Petit homme la lenteur patinée de terre rouge,
Petit homme-l'eau humant la falaise,
Petit homme-l'eau patiné de terre rouge
Petite personne-ébène
C'est un petit homme de l'époque d'un grand silence,
De l'époque sans bruit,
Chasseur de rêves balayant l'incertitude
à la porte des tourments:
Une main un vol d'oiseaux balayant le coucher.
Balayant le coucher
L'coucher
Balayant le coucher
L'coucher
Balayant le coucher
L'coucher
Balayant le coucher
L'coucher
Petit homme la lenteur patinée de terre rouge,
Petit homme-l'eau humant la falaise,
Petit homme-l'eau patiné de terre rouge
Petite personne-ébène
C'est un petit homme de l'époque
Où l'on mangeait dans les cauris,
De l'époque de la philosophie,
L'homme-goutte haut comme trois dattes,
Gardien silencieux de l'équilibre.
Petit homme la lenteur patinée de terre rouge,
Petit homme-l'eau humant la falaise,
Petit homme-l'eau patiné de terre rouge
Petite personne-ébène
C'est un petit homme de l'époque d'un grand silence,
De l'époque sans bruit,
Chasseur de rêves balayant l'incertitude
à la porte des tourments:
Une main un vol d'oiseaux balayant le coucher.
Balayant le coucher
L'coucher
Balayant le coucher
L'coucher
Balayant le coucher
L'coucher
Balayant le coucher
L'coucher
The lyrics of Lo'Jo's song "Petit homme" paint a vivid portrait of a small man from a bygone era. It describes a time when people ate from cauris (cowries), a time of philosophy and deep thinking. The "petit homme" is described as being as tall as three dates, a silent guardian of balance. The imagery of the song presents him as a figure of strength and stability, with his slow movements and his connection to the earth.
The repetition of the phrases "Petit homme la lenteur patinée de terre rouge" and "Petit homme-l'eau humant la falaise" further emphasizes the small man's connection to the earth and water. He is described as a guardian of solitude, armed with a staff of six ferns, dispersing laughter and happiness among children.
The lyrics also allude to a time of silence and a lack of noise, where the petit homme emerges as a dream hunter, sweeping away uncertainty and troubles, symbolized by a hand and a flock of birds sweeping away the sunset. This image suggests that the petit homme has the power to bring calmness and serenity, to chase away worries and bring peace.
Overall, "Petit homme" is a poetic tribute to a small man from a previous era, who embodies qualities of strength, balance, and the ability to bring peace and tranquility amidst chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
C'est un petit homme de l'époque où l'on mangeait dans les cauris
He is a little man from the time when we ate in cauris
De l'époque de la philosophie
From the time of philosophy
L'homme-goutte haut comme trois dattes, gardien silencieux de l'équilibre
The drop man as tall as three dates, silent guardian of balance
Petit homme la lenteur patinée de terre rouge
Little man, the slow pace polished with red earth
Petit homme-l'eau humant la falaise
Little man-water sniffing the cliff
Petit homme-l'eau patiné de terre rouge
Little man-water polished with red earth
Petite personne-ébène gardienne du trésor de solitude
Little ebony person guarding the treasure of solitude
Gardien-ange armé de la badine à six fougères
Guardian angel armed with the six-fern wand
Disperseur de nuées d'enfants rieurs
Dispenser of laughing children clouds
C'est un petit homme de l'époque d'un grand silence
He is a little man from the time of great silence
De l'époque sans bruit
From the time without noise
Chasseur de rêves balayant l'incertitude à la porte des tourments
Dream hunter sweeping uncertainty at the door of afflictions
Une main un vol d'oiseaux balayant le coucher
One hand a flock of birds sweeping the sunset
Balayant le coucher
Sweeping the sunset
L'coucher
The sunset
Writer(s): Mathieu Rousseau, Nadia Nid El Mourid, Denis Pean, Nicolas Meslien, Yamin Nid El Mourid, Richard Rousseau, Philiippe Brix
Contributed by Caleb C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.