Establishing the mood with an intricate guitar soundscape and brooding vocal timbre, Steel & Velvet opens Orphan’s Lament with an almost operatic adjacency and a high emotional quotient. We learn that Orphan’s Lament serves as the opening track of People Just Float – a new artistic statement blending a six-track EP with a short film directed by Loïc Moyou.
The Breton folk-rock trio is delivering something raw, minimal and deeply human. Their sound, rooted in authenticity and an emotive timelessness, echoes the emotional honesty of Johnny Cash’s American Recordings.
Orphan’s Lament is in fact adapted from Robbie Basho’s 1978 composition. It replaces piano with Romuald Ballet-Baz’s delicate finger-picked guitar, the instrumental outro is sublime and coupled with the cinematic video has us on the verge of tears. The lower cadence of Johann Le Roux’s timbre manifests with gravity and grace.
This narrative introduces a protagonist – Joshua, who is the main character of the overarching concept of People Just Float. The powerful opener feels both intimate yet cinematic, and it is designed to prepare us for the EP’s emotional journey. We appreciate the blend of Basho’s spiritual folk energy and Steel & Velvet’s grounded approach, which creates a timeless balance.
Formed in 2021, Steel & Velvet unites the classical training of Le Roux and Ballet-Baz with Jean-Alain Larreur’s blues-rock tendencies. Their sound thrives on simplicity. The acoustic guitars, clear vocals with space to breathe creates music that is meant for close rooms and real connection.
Visually, the band continues their collaboration with Loïc Moyou, whose films amplifies their introspective world. His direction is intended to capture the poetic tension between fragility and strength. These are the same dualities that defines Steel & Velvet’s sound.
Following their 2023 EP Waiting for Some Warmth, serving as a tribute to Mark Lanegan, this new release marks a creative evolution. People Just Float is set to dive deeper into themes of loss, connection and resilience.
Needless to say, we are in awe, and have added Orphan’s Lament to our New Music Spotlight playlist and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we look forward to experiencing Joshua’s journey, and the entirety of People Just Float!