S*T*U*F*F* Reloaded

We’ve just played a TV performance for “Canal Plus”, concluding the European phase of the tour. Strange, and an inevitable come-down after last night.

The final show proper, in La Cigale, was destined to be a highlight show, and it certainly lived up to its hype - the venue is so beautiful, and it was outrageously packed. We couldn’t do much wrong, to be fair, and it was a relaxed show. Charlotte Gainsbourg joined the lads again for a couple of songs - she’s such an astronimcally huge star here its hard to believe, especially since I’d never even heard of her before working with Air - but famed for her acting, and certainly not her singing. She’s like a rabbit in the headlights on stage, and barely breathes down the microphone.

Neil Hannon is here - he was great, and it has been fantastic fun to be hanging out with him. His track on Pocket Symphony is one of my favourites… a cool man, and yet another surreal drift in this journey to meet him, never mind drinking Amarone at 4am while discussing Philip Pullman’s books and the imagery of travelling to the land of the dead.

I had a nice moment with Nico. He collared me and said “You know what - tonight I heard all that you were playing for the first time, man”. If you knew Nico, that would sound ominous… so yes, I thought it sounded ominous. But then he said, “I couldn’t believe it - all those details, and you play so precise… its just amazing, and I’m so happy. Cos it was kind of a bet, you know? We didn’t even know you…” To hear Nico dishing out such praise is rare, so I was drifting for the rest of the evening with a canine smile. I was also pleased to have held down a 45-minute conversation in French with Christian’s (my guitar tech) girlfriend Rebia… although it was all pretty straightforward stuff.