Photo by CG Watkins
Rendez-Vous, the Parisian post-punk iconoclasts we last saw rocking a packed house at La Cigale in their hometown back in the pre-pandemic glory days of January 2020, are back on the scene, and it’s about time. The band recently dropped Sheer, the first single off their much-anticipated album Downcast, slated for release just in time to soundtrack your summer existential crisis.
After a marathon tour that saw them rocking out in over 100 gigs across 14 countries and gracing the stages of Europe’s festival heavyweights like Sziget and Fusion (and let’s not forget Dour and Paléo), Rendez Vous has decidedly evolved: diving deeper into the global chaos, stripping down their sound to its gritty, guitar-laden bones, all while standing firm on a framework as sturdy as steel – think an unholy combination of Fugazi and Sonic Youth.
Gone are the days of sticking strictly to post-punk norms, now sprinkled with a healthy dose of digital distortion and glitches. Sheer feels like witnessing a dramatic showdown between humanity and technology – a pair of estranged siblings locked in a love-hate tussle, torn between a bear hug and a chokehold.
Watch the visualizer for “Sheer” below:
Founded in 2012 by Francis Mallari and Elliot Bethault (later adding Maxime Gendre and Simon Dubourg to the fray), Rendez-Vous embraces a philosophy of patience and intentionality, likening the lifecycle of a band to that of a long-standing relationship—complex yet rewarding over time. In an age where social media clamour is omnipresent, they opt for a quieter presence, adhering to the old adage that true contentment is found in privacy. This strategic withdrawal from the public gaze isn’t aimless but rather cultivates a sense of anticipation, prompting a more thoughtful engagement with their work. Their approach to managing time and public visibility suggests a sophisticated understanding of how to navigate the fleeting nature of musical fame, clearly marking them as savvy architects of their own history.
“Sheer” marks the latest release from Rendez Vous, following their highly acclaimed debut LP Superior State in 2018. This new album promises to take the band’s sound to the next level, blending moody new wave vibes with industrial grind to create a unique and captivating flurry of sound. Despite the world being even more bewildering than it was six years ago, Rendez Vous has managed to create an album that stands out among the rest.
The new single is available now on all streaming services. Downcast comes out May 17 via Artefact/Wedge.
Rendez-Vous will be embarking on a tour of North America and Europe in support of their new album Downcast, showcasing their acerbic brand of post-punk across a wide array of venues and festivals. Their journey includes a notable appearance at Wave Gotik Treffen in Leipzig Cold-Hearted Festival in Dresden and a performance at the Sanctum Festival in Chicago, among others.
Catch Rendez Vous live:
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