L’Idylle
It is not sheer power that thrives after devastation. The tallest, mightiest oak can still be felled. The forest and prairie can still burn. What once thrived, what began, is no more. But the natural world is resilient. Yet purple echinacea thrives in the aftermath. The wildfires accelerate the seed production, the pollinators sup on its nectar. The lupine thrives in the nitrogen rich soil. The seeds of the black pine flourish in the heat of the blaze. So too does L’Idylle mimic nature, destroying and rebuilding, presenting Romance / Violence newly recorded by founding members Nolwen and Louis with the addition of Thibaut and Mathilde layered into the band.
Romance / Violence is a testament to the craft of great screamo, in the hands of excellent musicians. The songs were originally recorded and released as a “demo” in November of 2022, and were originally composed by Nolwen (guitar) and Louis (vocals). As the band evolved, Mathilde (drums) and Thibaut (bass) planted seeds of their own, and the resiliency of the songs demanded regrowth.
To compare and contrast the songs side-by-side there is a certain charm to the originals. The vocals have a certain presence and warmth to them. Whereas the original recordings call out with the DIY recording spirit, the new versions are all improvement. Nuance and subtlety is not mired by the mix, vocals sit nicely in a way that makes them intelligible (if you speak the language) but also part of the instrumentation. Comparing the opening drums of “Tendre Jasmin” feels almost unfair in the improvement brought about in this rendition. In a surprising twist, the album was mixed by the bands’ friend and hip-hop artist, 2soon, and then finally mastered by Bad Bean Mastering (Florent from Lorne Malvo).
The band noted that this was the first time they have included people outside of the band in their recording process and “it was a lot of fun to be surrounded by our talented friends. It really helped us to bring the best out off the songs.” It absolutely shows that the melding of minds produced something which captured the dichotomy between beauty, the ambient reverse delay guitar riffs in ‘Memphis Lorna’ with an element of ferocity. Though I must admit that the pummeling riffing of ‘Tendre Jasmin’ does later balance beautifully clean passages before a fuzzed out anthem that feels familiar, like we’re sharing the same space both physically and ideologically.
That familiarity is also part of a core sound that has been paved firmly by the bands primary influences for these tracks. While the band cites Bay Area darlings, Loma Prieta, they’re also quick to call out Daïtro and Birds in Row, their kin from France. I’d be remiss if I didn’t say you could find hints of this brand of European screamo, drawing comparisons to French quartet Aussitôt Mort, and Italian legends Raein and La Quiete. I’m not making an attempt at hyperbole, but there is something sonically that these bands all seem to share. It’s not just in the language, and the flow of the lyrics, sonically these artists share qualities which help maintain some certain, fucking forgive me for saying it, je ne sais quoi.
“THE OVERALL THEME OF THAT EP IS TO BRING OUT IN A CATHARSIS ALL THE ANGER, FRUSTRATION AND ANXIETY CREATED BY THE ILLUSION THIS WORLD CREATES. WHEN YOU’RE BECOMING AN ADULT ALL THE ILLUSION AND HOPE YOU HAD FOR THIS WORLD ARE BEING FRACTURED LITTLE BY LITTLE.
WE THINK THAT ONE WAY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER IS TO ACCEPT THESE EMOTIONS, TO BE OKAY WITH BEING VULNERABLE. WEAR YOUR HEART ON YOUR SLEEVES AND COMMUNICATE, YOU WILL THEN KNOW PEACE.”
- L’IDYLLE, @L_IDYLLE
At first it may seem that the wildfire regrowth metaphor is red herring, just hook to bring you in, but it was inspired by the band and their willingness to bare their souls to the world. “It's about the realization of one’s faults and flaws, weaknesses and mistakes. The need to change, to let go of a part of oneself, to accept the fact that something inside must die in order to grow,” the band writes. “Metaphorically we must set ourselves on fire so that the seed within can flourish”. The story of a youth, “unhappy, self-loathing”, seeking something, anything, to fill the emptiness. The sundering within, the spark of emotions lit fires, cleared the way for beauty, love, wonder, and change. This is the story of L’Idylle, a band who have refined their craft, quite literally, on Romance / Violence.
“IT’S THE END OF A CHAPTER FOR US AND TIME TO OPEN ANOTHER ONE. A WAY TO BE AT PEACE WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE WORKED SO HARD FOR DURING THESE LAST THREE YEARS. IT’S ALSO A WAY TO BECOME PART OF THE FRENCH SCENE AND TO IMPLICATE OURSELVES MORE IN A GENRE WE LOVE AND THAT MEANS A LOT TO ALL OF US.”
- L’IDYLLE, @L_IDYLLE
These tracks demonstrate the potential L’Idylle posses. While it’s taken me longer to write the review than I’d care to admit, I’ve put serious mileage on these tracks, soaking them in, letting them getting under my skin. Sure, I can only fish mouth the words Louis sings, but the pantomiming feels comforting as I recognize that I am, even still, like the self-loathing youth, looking to something to occupy the void.
While you’re stuck waiting for the band to work on new material, you can take solace in the fact that Romance / Violence is out now on Fireflies Fall Records.
L’idylle is Louis on vocals, Nolwen on guitar, Thibaut on bass & Mathilde on drums.
Follow them on Instagram here : L’idylle
Writer : @garevthistle
Editor : @just_reidz
09/11/25
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