The return of the DIY farmers from Gascony…organic rock inspired by philosophers, naturalists and cats from The Inspector Cluzo.

Release Date: 6th June 2025

Label: Fuckthebassplayer

Format: CD / digital / LP

It’s been a while since we last encountered Laurent and Matthieu at the Night & Day Cafe. The Deaf Institute beckons in October as they tick off the venues around Manchester’s Northern Quarter and up Oxford Road.

PHILOSOPHERS & NATURALISTS

Meanwhile, the signs are promising with album #10 off the blocks. First impressions and all, it’s a great album cover. Opening up with overdriven scuzzy guitars, a nod to The Stranglers and a couple of insults thrown in (think along the lines of their f@@k the bassplayer), the duo remind us that all you need is a guitar and drumkit. And probably a barn with a space in the straw swept clear, for shelter. By contrast to the simplicity of their surroundings, the album concept and lyrics have more highbrow inspirations – American naturalist (making absolutely sure we don’t write ‘naturist’) Henry David Thoreau and 20th century French philosopher Guy Debord. The latter, an opponent of mass production and consumption with which our Gallic heroes have an obvious empathy.

As you’d expect, hope and ultimately encounter, Less Is More is all very raw and organic. A duo who bottle lightning by managing to capture their live sound on record. Good work Vance Powell, who has the CV to make it happen. Four days recording and three days mixing is a decent week’s work. Granted, a higher power took one day less to create heaven and earth and earned a rest day but divine intervention may not be a part of the Powell toolkit.

GUITAR, DRUMS…

Musically, the limitations placed by the guitar/drums arrangement is an obvious restriction on the sonic palette. A little like instrumental music that has no vocal as a focal point. However, the onslaught that the Cluzo pairing create is what gives The Inspector its appeal and there are enough little ‘sit up in alarm’ moments to grab the attention. The grimy guitar of As Stupid As You Can might invoke growly vocal comparisons with Papa Het in full on ‘don’t give a f@@k ‘ mode and Rules has a more mainstream radio rock appeal and hook. Terrific riff to the latter too and a rousing “it’s all about…FREE-DOM!” battle cry.

Less Is More has a similar immediacy. Right out of the four to the bar, foot to the floor, rock and roll boogie that made a career for AC/DC. With Rules, it forms a unforgiving tag team. They form a tasty sandwich which traps the funky jabs of The Greenwashers as that note about the limitations gets tossed aside as we bob vaguely around the waters occupied by the bluesy and the three chords and the truth punkiness.

RULE BREAKERS

The down to basics sees the Cluzos whipping up a storm with the relentless drive in Mr Fameless before a touch of power balladeering in Workers. The “workers of the world unite” lines gets delivered with a tad more passion and determination than Morrissey’s Shoplifters Of The World…

For a finale, a curveball heads out way. The mood takes a distinctly sombre and low key turn. There’s a Hollis Brown desperation in the brooding acoustic ambience of Journey Men. Expectations that there’s a-something around the corner awaiting to mug us actually never comes . The chance to sleep safely in our beds although with TIC, we’re never far from a rumble in the hay or breaking some of those rules that are meant to be broken.

Summing up Less Is More rather nicely, here’s Catfarm:

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