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Amor Belhom Duo Bio

NAIM AMOR (vocals, guitars, violin and samplers) and THOMAS BELHOM (percussion, drums, accordion, vocals), with lyrics by French filmmaker MARIANNE DISSARD, from Paris, France, living in Tucson, Arizona in the United States since 1997.
Before forming their "avant-French pop" duo and regularly collaborating with Tucson-based Touch And Go artists Joey Burns and John Convertino from Calexico, Naïm and Thomas belonged to bands ranging in style from early Parisian hardcore (Witches Valley) to experimental musical and theatrical political avant-garde (from 1992 to 1997, in Génération Chaos, performing experimental music with contemporary music percussionist/composer Jean-Charles François - director of UCSD music school from 1972 to 1986- and stage director Marc O').
1995
Naïm and Thomas meet French filmmaker MARIANNE DISSARD (who directed the Giant Sand documentary "Drunken Bees") and compose the soundtrack to her French TV documentary "Low Y Cool".
1997
Amor Belhom Duo is formed, with Marianne writing the lyrics. Relocating to Tucson, Arizona, they start regular close collaborations with JOEY BURNS and JOHN CONVERTINO from that other fine Tucson duo, CALEXICO.
1998
In May 98, AMOR BELHOM DUO recorded its first full-length album, WAVELAB PERFORMANCE, in Tucson at the Wavelab Studio (recording home to the likes of Giant Sand, Howe Gelb, Calexico, OP8...). With that album, AMOR BELHOM DUO attempted the challenge of translating their original style of live performance onto tape, through a four days recording session. The 11 tracks album features frequent collaborators Marianne Dissard (for lyrics) and guest performers Joey Burns and John Convertino, whom Naïm and Thomas have later backed up on stage, in San Francisco at the Great American Music Hall, in LA at the Troubador, in Austin at the South By Southwest Conference. WAVELAB PERFORMANCE is now available in CD or cassette in the US through the Duo's own label, NORMANDIE DREAM RECORDS, and to be released, retitled as WAVELAB, in April 2001 in Europe through Nancy/France-based label ICI D'AILLEURS.
1999
In May 1999 , the Duo returned from their first very successful and critically acclaimed US west coast tour (opening for Sparklehorse in San Francisco at the Great American Music Hall, playing Café du Nord in San Francisco, and clubs from Seattle to San Diego) to record its second album, the self-titled AMOR BELHOM DUO.
2000
French label ICI D'AILLEURS (home of Yann Tiersen, Married Monks, Madrid, Bed...) releases the S/T AMOR BELHOM DUO album in Europe and label SAIDERA RECORDS in Japan.
Also out is collaborative album TETE A TETE by ABBC, i.e. AMOR- BELHOM- BURNS-CONVERTINO on WABANA RECORDS in the US, Saidera Record/Japan, Vicious Circle/France
After performing at SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2000 as music festival sponsor Tucson Weekly's regional band of choice, Amor Belhom Duo tours Europe with David Grubbs, Quentin Rollet and Noël Akchoté (label Rectangle), appearing at festivals Printemps de Bourges and Transmusicales de Rennes.
The Duo also opens for Calexico in Paris and Strasbourg, while Marianne sings la femme fatale in duo with Joey Burns on Calexico single "Ballad of Cable Hogue".
A fall 2000 european tour includes dates with Giant Sand, the release of tour-only CD, ANY TIME ANY WAY, and the music video for title "Pulling On A Cig", directed by Marianne, appearing on French music channels MCM and M6.
2001
Invited back at SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST 2001, Amor Belhom Duo will head back to Europe for a six countries tour, in support of the release by Ici d'Ailleurs of album WAVELAB (the reproduced, remixed, remastered version of the original 1998 Wavelab Performance, the Duo's first album). Later that spring, the release of albums Wavelab and Amor Belhom Duo by Chicago-based label CARROT TOP will be followed by a US tour opening for labelmates Handsome Family.

Amor Belhom Duo Downloads
Amor Belhom Duo's Downloads are available for download at the iTunes Music Store. Click here to see what's available.

Amor Belhom Duo Recordings on Carrot Top Records

Amor Belhom Duo Wavelab CD Out of print download on iTunes	Amor Belhom Duo CD Out of print download on iTunes

Listen to
Swamp Coolers and
Reminds Me Of
from Amor Belhom Duo SAKI 028

Elevator Baby
and Introduction from Wavelab SAKI 029

Related Links:

Amor Belhom Duo built their own site. It is bilingual!