The title, Tadpoles, started as a joke. I imagined my demos in their purest form, without limbs, primitive & untamed. The Living Paintings would perform their magic and the songs would form legs and arms, as well as a heart and brain. Sometimes, they'd even give them wings.

The Living Paintings too would have to grow together. Whilst being in a band isn't always easy, the recording of Tadpoles was especially hard. We'd already attempted to record the album in November 2023 but it didn't quite work. The second time round we'd played most of the songs live since 2 years, were recording in an idyllic pine forest countryside setting and had one week to record 9 songs. Apart from having to build a mobile studio from scratch, things should have been simple.

As it turned out, we were the tadpoles and it was our turn to evolve. Communication and relationships were shattered and remoulded and It would be the start of a collective reconstruction that would be both painful, yet necessary. There was anger, frustration and confusion, but also empathy, compassion and friendships that would endure difficult moments and misunderstandings.

What I, and I hope that you, hear when listening to Tadpoles is the will of six humans to give everything, in the worst of times, to make something beautiful. Recording live requires that everybody pulls together and, even in the darkest moments, everyone played their part. I'm aware that in this world of war and mass manipulation all of this sounds very dramatic for the making of an album, yet there we were, living this very intense thing that means very little to very few people but, in that moment, everything to us.

All that, before even talking about the subject of the songs...

I'd like to thank The Living Paintings; Nico Brusq (Drums), Luc Martin (Bass), Stéphane Jach (Violin & Flute), Sam Roux (Piano & Backing Vocals) & Paul Trigoulet (Lead Guitar) for their unwavering support in the band and in our personal lives since the last five years and beyond.

Thank you to our amazing brass section; Michel Roux (Mellophone) & Marc Mouches (Baritone Sax) and the one & only Laurent Rigaut (Free Sax & Clarinet).

Thank you to Laurent & Christine Dory for lending us your barn where we made the album and to the Family Roux for their wisdom and taking care of us the week of the recording.

Thank you to Paul Trigoulet for his time, patience and incredible ears on the recording and mixing of Tadpoles.

Thank you to Stéphane Teynie for his subtle and delicate mastering skills.

Thank you to Marie Meilhan-Bordes for her beautiful monotype artwork.

Thank you to Paul Rannaud who lent us his Tascam 388 so we could mix reel to reel and keep the whole recording and mixing process analogique.

Thank you to Alexis Kacimi & Le Pop Club Records who have released my five solo albums + the Dômo Kômo LP Bugs, six albums in seven years, since 2020. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement.

And finally, thank you for listening. We can't wait to play our songs live for you on tour this spring.

Bises,
Nick