We have a strong relationship with Les Tricards. The band from Colmar (France) has been releasing a lot of singles and EPs for free and they have always sent to us their new stuff straightaway. Les Tricards have just issued their debut album “Saint Pogo”. This time, it’s not free, but this should not put a damper on the sales: only 4 Euros for 12 songs is a gift.

Les Tricards is a solo project by Loran. Who is Loran? Loran and his brother Alain, aka the Duduche bros, were the bassist and drummer at Kromen, an Alsatian streetpunk/oi! band that was active between 1.991 and 1.996. Their mate Fred aka Randu (lead vocals) committed suicide in 1996. The Duduche bothers kept on rehearsing and writing music and then a new band was born with the help from some friends: 2’dTension. 2’dTension was active between 1997 and 2016, but Loran started a side-project in 2011: Les Tricards. Les Tricards is Loran’s solo band, but Alain adds the background vocals.

Les Tricards’ new delivery is a 12 track album. Loran has re-recorded two old songs, “Ma Révolution” from the “Ma Révolution” EP (2012) and “On est Tricard” from the “Un poing c’est tout” EP (2011). “La peste et le cholera” was previously released as a single too, but the other 9 tracks are never previously released songs.

“Saint Pogo” kicks off with “Chantez”. It’s an intro with almost no lyrics: a 1-2-3-4 shout and some “chantez, chantez, woah” and “chantez, Les Tricards, chantez, Les Tricards” (sing, sing, woah and sing, sing, Les Tricards). A good intro to sing along featuring attractive bass lines and pipes.

The next track reminds me of Bérurier Noir “Jim la jungle”. Obviously I’m not talking about the music, but about the lyrics. Excellent bagpipes (street)punk number.

“Saint Pogo” was advanced on YouTube before the album was released. Another streetpunk drinking number with Les Tricards DNA.

“Monsier Blanc Cassis” is a song about a beauf (beau frère, brother in law). In French, a beauf is a racist, a “ronchon” (grumpy) and a “réac” (reactionary, right wing). Mister Blanc Cassis feels that he’s got the blues. He doesn’t go to the pubs, he doesn’t quarrel with the muslim people and he is not going to the Front National rallies anymore. Finally, his wife tells him that he has not got the blues: he has evolved as a human being and he has the right feelings now. In other words, he’s not a stupid anymore. This song features Loran’s wife on female vocals.

The following track is a traditional number with new lyrics: “Dans les prisons de Nantes”. Maybe some fans will remember that the German band Waxie’s recorded this song on their debut album “The Prisoner” (1995). Les Tricards rendition is a kick-ass number to sing out.

“Le vent se lève” is a fast-paced number that streetpunk fans will enjoy. It’s followed by “La peste et le choléra”, a song about the French elections, and the bagpipes punk anthem “Ma révolution”. The new version of “Ma révolution” is a little bit shorter than the original, 3:00 instead of 3:39.

Track no. 9 will become soon a crowd favorite: “Ouarglo”. Amazing Celtic oi! number about drinking: we always promised that it’s the last one, but we keep on drinking.

“Les pieds dans le plat” is one of the band’s calling cards: “Les Tricards sont là, Les Tricards vous emmerdent” (Les Tricards have arrived, f*ck you)

The lyrics for the next song are a sort of tale about free will, an “unrequited love” and Jean de La Fontaine’s fable “The Fox and the Grapes”. Strange lyrics, but interesting music anyway.

The closing number is the new version of “Les Tricards”, the other calling card on the album. This time, the new version is longer than the original, 2:48 vs 2:44.

“Saint Pogo” is a digital release and can be bought from bandcamp. All of the lyrics in French are available at Bandcamp too.

Les Tricards haver their roots in the French oi! scene from the 90’s, that is, the Chaos Productions bands: Reich Orgasm, Kidnap, Les Collabos, Trotskids, Komintern Sect …. If you have downloaded Les Tricards previous releases, you know what to expect from their debut album. However, if you have never listened to Les Tricards and you love streetpunk, oi! and bagpipes, then give them a try.

Track listing:

01. Chantez 02:09   
02. Toujours Devant 03:02   
03. Saint Pogo 03:26   
04. Mr Blanc Cassis 04:37   
05. Dans les Prisons de Nantes (traditionnel) 02:09   
06. Le Vent se Lève 02:23   
07. La Peste et le Choléra 03:02   
08. Ma Révolution 03:00   
09. Ouarglo 03:10   
10. Les Pieds dans le Plat 02:41   
11. Révolté 02:55
12. On est Tricards 02:48

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Review by Kinksmarkham