Year of No Light
Encyclopedia
Hailing from Bordeaux
, Year Of No Light (often abbreviated as YONL) is a French band formed in 2001. With their first album, Nord, "Year Of No Light have proven adept a shifting seamlessly between genres, balancing post-rock
, sludge
, somber psychedelics
and crushing dark and depressing atmospheric shoegaze".
In 2010, now backed by two drums
, 3 guitars
(featuring the guitarist of Monarch!
), the band (now an instrumental six pieces) released its second album, Ausserwelt, oscillating between drone
, doom
, post-rock
, black metal
and progressive
music.
, France
by Johan Sébenne, Bertrand Sébenne, Jérôme Alban and Christophe Mora (Finger Print, Undone,...). Since its conception, Year Of No Light was never a "top priority" band but rather an instrumental side project. After one year of rehearsal, Christophe Mora left the band. Pierre Anouilh succeeded him. One month later, the band played live for the first time.
From 2002 to 2003, they played local shows in Bordeaux
. In September 2003, Julien Perez joined the band as a singer. One month later, the new line up played its first show. But Year Of No Light still remains an "active" side project, due to all the others musical activities of the vast majority of its members.
The band finally recorded a demo in June 2004. After its release, the group toured Spain
and Basque Country
. Following the good feedbacks surrounding the Demo (one review describing Year Of No Light as "The Cure
playing Sludge
"), the band worked on its first album during the summer 2005. In September 2005, they recorded Nord with Serge Morattel at Geneva
, Switzerland
. The following year, Nord was released and got good reviews. Year Of No Light began to tour more often in 2006 and played at the famous Dour Festival
in 2007. The same year, Nord was reissued on Crucial Blast, for the CD version, and Cavity Records for the LP.
In 2008, Year Of No Light toured Europe
and played at the prestigious Roadburn
and Hellfest festivals. After several collaborations with acts like Nadja
or Fear Falls Burning and some splits recordings, they discarded their singer. At the end of the summer, Year Of No Light becomes a six piece entity with two drums
& 3 guitars
backed by some vintage synths
. Shiran Kaïdine, from Monarch!
, and Mathieu Mégemont, from Aérôflôt, have joined the band respectively as third guitarist and second drummer.
In September 2009, the band began to record Ausserwelt in Bordeaux
with Cyrille Gachet. In April 2010, following the release of Ausserwelt on Conspiracy, Year Of No Light toured Europe
with Irish
black metallers Altar of Plagues
. The following month, the band worked on a soundtrack for Dreyer
's Vampyr
, and performed it for the first time, on 28 May 2010, at Barbey Theatre in Bordeaux
. In February 2011, Year Of No Light played Vampyr
in Tallinn
, Estonia
. The following months, after having recorded new stuff for upcoming splits, they toured Europe and played two sets at Roadburn
: a classical gig (including the totality of Ausserwelt) and the Vampyr
performance.
Functioning sometimes like an open collective, Year Of No Light used to punctually be part of sonic performances in collaboration with contemporary artists. Recently, the group has worked with French contemporary artist Christian Vialard for a video installation reinventing Yves Klein
's Monotone Symphony. The installation can be seen during an exhibition, Le Temps de l’Ecoute, at la Villa Arson
, Nice
, from 24th June to 30th October 2011.
Former
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, Year Of No Light (often abbreviated as YONL) is a French band formed in 2001. With their first album, Nord, "Year Of No Light have proven adept a shifting seamlessly between genres, balancing post-rock
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
, sludge
Sludge metal
Sludge metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that melds elements of doom metal and hardcore punk, and sometimes incorporates influences from southern rock, stoner rock and grunge. Sludge metal is typically abrasive; often featuring shouted vocals, heavily distorted instruments and sharply contrasting...
, somber psychedelics
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
and crushing dark and depressing atmospheric shoegaze".
In 2010, now backed by two drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, 3 guitars
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(featuring the guitarist of Monarch!
Monarch (band)
-History:The band was founded in 2002 in Bayonne, France. In 2005, they released their debut, a double CD with three tracks. Since then the band have released new albums almost annually; additionally, they have also released various EPs, singles and splits with Moss, the Grey Daturas and Elysiüm...
), the band (now an instrumental six pieces) released its second album, Ausserwelt, oscillating between drone
Drone music
Drone music is a minimalist musical style that emphasizes the use of sustained or repeated sounds, notes, or tone-clusters – called drones. It is typically characterized by lengthy audio programs with relatively slight harmonic variations throughout each piece compared to other musics...
, doom
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
, post-rock
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
, black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
and progressive
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
music.
History
Year of No Light was founded in September 2001 in BordeauxBordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
by Johan Sébenne, Bertrand Sébenne, Jérôme Alban and Christophe Mora (Finger Print, Undone,...). Since its conception, Year Of No Light was never a "top priority" band but rather an instrumental side project. After one year of rehearsal, Christophe Mora left the band. Pierre Anouilh succeeded him. One month later, the band played live for the first time.
From 2002 to 2003, they played local shows in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
. In September 2003, Julien Perez joined the band as a singer. One month later, the new line up played its first show. But Year Of No Light still remains an "active" side project, due to all the others musical activities of the vast majority of its members.
The band finally recorded a demo in June 2004. After its release, the group toured Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Basque Country
Basque Country
The Basque Country may refer to one of three areas inhabited by the Basque people:*The Basque Country , an autonomous community of Spain *The Basque Country , the approximate cultural area of...
. Following the good feedbacks surrounding the Demo (one review describing Year Of No Light as "The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
playing Sludge
Sludge metal
Sludge metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that melds elements of doom metal and hardcore punk, and sometimes incorporates influences from southern rock, stoner rock and grunge. Sludge metal is typically abrasive; often featuring shouted vocals, heavily distorted instruments and sharply contrasting...
"), the band worked on its first album during the summer 2005. In September 2005, they recorded Nord with Serge Morattel at Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. The following year, Nord was released and got good reviews. Year Of No Light began to tour more often in 2006 and played at the famous Dour Festival
Dour Festival
Dour Festival is an annual music festival in the municipality of Dour, Belgium. Since its creation in 1989, the festival has grown to an attendance of about 144,000 in 2008 . The first year, only five bands were programmed . The festival format now consists of 4 days, 6 stages and 200 bands and DJ's...
in 2007. The same year, Nord was reissued on Crucial Blast, for the CD version, and Cavity Records for the LP.
In 2008, Year Of No Light toured Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and played at the prestigious Roadburn
Roadburn Festival
Roadburn Festival is an annual international rock festival in Tilburg in the Netherlands held since 1995.-2012 edition:The event will take place in Tilburg from April 12 to 15 at 013 and Midi Theatre.It was sold out in 7 minutes.Thursday, April 12...
and Hellfest festivals. After several collaborations with acts like Nadja
Nadja (band)
Nadja is a duo of Aidan Baker and Leah Buckareff . Nadja began in 2003 as a solo project for Baker to explore the heavier/noisier side of his experimental/ambient music performed mainly on the electric guitar...
or Fear Falls Burning and some splits recordings, they discarded their singer. At the end of the summer, Year Of No Light becomes a six piece entity with two drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
& 3 guitars
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
backed by some vintage synths
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
. Shiran Kaïdine, from Monarch!
Monarch (band)
-History:The band was founded in 2002 in Bayonne, France. In 2005, they released their debut, a double CD with three tracks. Since then the band have released new albums almost annually; additionally, they have also released various EPs, singles and splits with Moss, the Grey Daturas and Elysiüm...
, and Mathieu Mégemont, from Aérôflôt, have joined the band respectively as third guitarist and second drummer.
In September 2009, the band began to record Ausserwelt in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
with Cyrille Gachet. In April 2010, following the release of Ausserwelt on Conspiracy, Year Of No Light toured Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
with Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
black metallers Altar of Plagues
Altar of Plagues
Altar of Plagues is an Irish atmospheric black metal / post-metal band. After gaining attention in the metal community with a series of demos and EPs, the band released their first studio album, White Tomb, in April 2009 on Profound Lore Records. Following a year of gigging and some changes to the...
. The following month, the band worked on a soundtrack for Dreyer
Carl Theodor Dreyer
Carl Theodor Dreyer, Jr. was a Danish film director. He is regarded by many critics and filmmakers as one of the greatest directors in cinema.-Life:Dreyer was born illegitimate in Copenhagen, Denmark...
's Vampyr
Vampyr
Vampyr is a 1932 horror film directed by Danish director Carl Theodor Dreyer. The film was written by Dreyer and Christen Jul based on elements from J. Sheridan Le Fanu's collection of supernatural stories In a Glass Darkly. Vampyr was funded by Nicolas de Gunzburg who starred in the film under...
, and performed it for the first time, on 28 May 2010, at Barbey Theatre in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
. In February 2011, Year Of No Light played Vampyr
Vampyr
Vampyr is a 1932 horror film directed by Danish director Carl Theodor Dreyer. The film was written by Dreyer and Christen Jul based on elements from J. Sheridan Le Fanu's collection of supernatural stories In a Glass Darkly. Vampyr was funded by Nicolas de Gunzburg who starred in the film under...
in Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. The following months, after having recorded new stuff for upcoming splits, they toured Europe and played two sets at Roadburn
Roadburn Festival
Roadburn Festival is an annual international rock festival in Tilburg in the Netherlands held since 1995.-2012 edition:The event will take place in Tilburg from April 12 to 15 at 013 and Midi Theatre.It was sold out in 7 minutes.Thursday, April 12...
: a classical gig (including the totality of Ausserwelt) and the Vampyr
Vampyr
Vampyr is a 1932 horror film directed by Danish director Carl Theodor Dreyer. The film was written by Dreyer and Christen Jul based on elements from J. Sheridan Le Fanu's collection of supernatural stories In a Glass Darkly. Vampyr was funded by Nicolas de Gunzburg who starred in the film under...
performance.
Functioning sometimes like an open collective, Year Of No Light used to punctually be part of sonic performances in collaboration with contemporary artists. Recently, the group has worked with French contemporary artist Christian Vialard for a video installation reinventing Yves Klein
Yves Klein
Yves Klein was a French artist considered an important figure in post-war European art. He is the leading member of the French artistic movement of Nouveau réalisme founded in 1960 by the art critic Pierre Restany...
's Monotone Symphony. The installation can be seen during an exhibition, Le Temps de l’Ecoute, at la Villa Arson
Villa Arson
The Villa Arson, also referred to as the École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts à la Villa Arson , is a French art museum, elite school and research institution for contemporary art, located in Nice, France...
, Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
, from 24th June to 30th October 2011.
Members
Current- Jérôme Alban - guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(2001-present) (Baron Oufo, Donald Washington, Metronome Charisma) - Pierre Anouilh - guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(2002-present) (Déjà Mort) - Bertrand Sébenne - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussions, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(2001-present) (Metronome Charisma) - Johan Sébenne - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, electronics (2001-present) (Altaïr Temple, Nexus Sun) - Shiran Kaïdine - guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(2008-present) (Monarch!Monarch (band)-History:The band was founded in 2002 in Bayonne, France. In 2005, they released their debut, a double CD with three tracks. Since then the band have released new albums almost annually; additionally, they have also released various EPs, singles and splits with Moss, the Grey Daturas and Elysiüm...
) - Mathieu Mégemont - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
(2008-present) (Aérôflôt)
Former
- Christophe Mora - guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(2001-2002) (Finger Print, Undone) - Julien Perez - vocals, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(2003-2008) (Metronome Charisma)
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Released | Format | Label |
| 2006 | Nord | 2006 | CD | Radar Swarm |
| 2006 | 2xLP | E-Vinyl, Atropine Records | ||
| 2007 | CD | Crucial Blast | ||
| 2008 | 2xLP | Cavity Records, Atropine Records, E-Vinyl | ||
| 2010 | Ausserwelt | 2010 | CD | Conspiracy |
| 2010 | 2xLP | Music Fear Satan |
Live albums
| Year | Album | Released | Format | Label |
| 2009 | Live at Roadburn 2008 | 2009 | LP+DVD | Roadburn Records |
| 2011 | CD | Roadburn Records |
Split albums, EPs and collaborations
- s/t (split w/ Karysun) 7"EP (2009)
- Year Of No Light w/ Fear Falls Burning & Nadja (split w/ Machu Picchu Mother Future) LP (2009)
- 3 way Split (split w/ East of the Wall & RosettaRosetta (band)Rosetta is an American post-metal band from Philadelphia incorporating elements of post-hardcore, shoegazing, drone, post-rock, avant-garde, and ambient, with influences as diverse as Neurosis and Isis, My Bloody Valentine, Frodus, and Stars of the Lid...
) LP (2009)
Soundtracks
- (2010)
- Mademoiselle... (original soundtrack performed live for the exhibition Rupture mon amour) (2010)
- VampyrVampyrVampyr is a 1932 horror film directed by Danish director Carl Theodor Dreyer. The film was written by Dreyer and Christen Jul based on elements from J. Sheridan Le Fanu's collection of supernatural stories In a Glass Darkly. Vampyr was funded by Nicolas de Gunzburg who starred in the film under...
(original soundtrack performed live) (2010-2011)