A chance meeting between noted blues/rock guitarist Sylvain Laforge and former New Yorker Angela Randall in 2009 has now led to the formation of ‘Lux’, an electrified alt-folk sort of outfit who are building on the success of their previous incarnation as ‘Rough Translation’ who many will know from their gigs around Paris in the last few years in such clubs as OPA, Le Cavern, Le China, Les Disquaires, etc.

Having played the big festivals and all the major venues in Paris with the Rita Mitsouko as well as Stones tribute band ‘Satisfaction’, Lux is a more intimate affair for Laforge and one where he is no longer the guitar-for-hire but, as he puts it, ‘the boss’. A strong believer in the purity and tradition of American blues (‘Everything I do is the blues’) Laforge felt an immediate chemistry with Randall’s understated lyrics and, shortly after their first meeting, they were writing songs and gigging together.

Imagine Natalie Merchant wandering into Villa Nellcote when the Stones were recording Exile on Main St. and you’ll get a flavour of who they are and that seductive allure of punchy guitar and wounded lyrics. Laforge feels strongly that all songs should work with just guitar and voice and, similarly, Randall’s spare lyrics tap into that same traditional aesthetic uncomplicated by layers of production or studio gimmickry. As ‘Rough Translation’, their songs and performances were the gentler side of Americana but, with studio time booked, some session players involved and about 50 songs in the can, Lux is now developing a rockier sound. With bass and drums behind Laforge’s stunning guitar work, these new recordings promise to breathe new life into their repertoire as well as kickstart a catalogue of new songs, new performances and new followers.