L’Impératrice: The Disco Delight We Didn’t Know We Needed!
Ah, ‘nu-disco’ — the term every hipster with a questionable haircut and too many vinyl records overuses! And every time they do, you can bet your favorite thrift shop find that the name L’Impératrice comes dancing right in. This Parisian electro-pop band has been busy dyeing dance floors a shade of funky for twelve glorious years and, spoiler alert, they didn’t skip leg day when it came to their latest album, Pulsar.
Now, imagine this: you’re at the Ancienne Belgique, and half the crowd is still recovering from the grape juice hangover from seeing their great aunt’s basement disco revival. A big announcement just dropped—lead singer Flore Benguigui has left the building! Don’t worry, though; in glides new frontwoman Louve, ready to kick things up a notch like a superhero in stilettos. Will she fly or flop? Stay tuned!
Opening Act: Please Stepping Up the Game
Before we could say “Get Down Tonight,” up came the boys from Please. Naturally, their latest EP had only dropped two weeks ago, making their timing so impeccable that you’d swear it was rehearsed! Each chorus wafted through the venue like the scent of fresh croissants—the crowd was already on their feet. Who knew clapping along was a cardio workout? Their funky beats were infectious, and before you knew it, dance shoes were being laced and those Malcolm Gladwell tipping points were tipping!
The Main Event: L’Impératrice Takes the Stage
Lights dimmed, and in they strode: L’Impératrice. This was no ordinary show—it was a full-blown production. With a drummer perched like a king on his throne, and keyboardists doing their best DJ impressions, all while decked out in outfits that looked like a wardrobe malfunction from a sci-fi movie, it was the 80s meets the future in a way that would have even DeLoreans purring with envy!
They kick-off with “Cosmogonie” and before you could even sip your overpriced beer, it flowed into “Amour ex Machina.” It was like the band were managed by the Time Lords themselves, seamlessly hopping through musical dimensions. Louve, clad in her sparkly ensemble, looked like she might just take off in a rocket ship — or at the very least, a ridiculously fast Uber!
Disco Fever: The Night Goes Wild
Throughout the night, it was nearly impossible to tell where one song ended and the next began—much like a poorly edited movie. “Voodoo?” morphed into “Girl!” like they were playing hopscotch on a musical cloud. And then there’s “Danza Marilù,” which turned into a runaway train, giving everyone the chance to spot those hidden talents in the band. Who knew the bassist could summon such bassy magic?
But let’s talk about Louve’s moment of glory during “Agitations Tropicales.” The audience went bonkers! The crowd’s roar rivaled the volume of the PA, and I’m pretty sure someone nearly leveled an entire beverage in excitement. If validation was what she sought, that night, she could’ve put it on a postcard and mailed it to herself! Audience members were waving arms wildly, which was a fair tactical move to catch attention—love at first dance move!
Rave Reviews: L’Impératrice Hits the Mark
As the set progressed, it became increasingly evident: this was no mere concert; it was an experience. L’Impératrice delivered a masterclass in mixing house, electro-pop, and funky goodness into one electrifying affair. By the time they busted out a cheeky cover of Daft Punk’s “Aerodynamic,” you could feel the nostalgia hit the crowd like a surprise tax bill — everyone knew what they were in for, and they loved it!
In summary, if you missed L’Impératrice at the Ancienne Belgique, you might as well have been watching paint dry on a Sunday afternoon. Their performance left the audience in a frenzied state of euphoria. As the night ended, the chants for Louve echoed like an anthem of a new disco era. “Where’s our encore?” they cried. And yes, reader, the only thing we’re left wishing is: when’s the next time we can dance to that level of brilliance?!
Setlist Highlights:
- Cosmogony
- Amour ex Machina
- Voodoo? (Part 1)
- Girl!
- Aerodynamic (Daft Punk cover)
- Piano Track Killer
© CPU – Leni Sonck
Anyone who uses the term ‘nu-disco’ among our southern neighbors actually mentions L’Impératrice in the same breath. The French electro-pop group from Paris has been making every dance floor where it performs unsafe for twelve years, while they have already fired three long players at us from the studio. The last feat that the group allowed us to hear was Pulsarwith which the Parisiens turned up the Daft Punk knob a little more. Something about supply and demand. At the end of September, the band announced the departure of lead singer Flore Benguigui, a message that caused quite a stir in the fan base. The group found a replacement in pop rock singer Louve. With the recent album in hand, it was somewhat apprehensive to wait and see how the older songs would come across live in the Ancienne Belgique.
To add more color to the evening, Please’s fellow countrymen were allowed to open the spectacles. Because their last EP dates from two weeks ago, the Frenchmen saw their opportunity to suddenly release new work at the AB. For example, the song “Hard Loving” came in nicely and on “Never Really Wanna Change” the frontman got all his arms in the air. The hall was already well filled by then, so we can safely call that level of audience interaction an achievement. His George Michael-like voice came amid a particularly exciting, funky production that spontaneously got our dancing legs going. The trio reached a musical climax, especially on “It’s Only a Band”. In other words, Please left a good impression and we look forward to seeing them again in one of our halls soon.
Exactly half an hour later the lights were turned off again: it was time for L’Impératrice to show what it had to offer. The band played their biggest Belgian headline show to date last night and that naturally included an impressive production. Drummer Tom Daveau played from a raised platform in the middle and keyboard players Charles de Boisseguin and Hagni Gwon each stood behind a kind of DJ booth, from where they could whip up the room. From second one, with opener “Cosmogonie”, the light production was fully utilized: for the audience present, who had already been nicely warmed up by Please, this was the sign that they could start dismantling the tent.
That intro number flowed seamlessly into “Amour ex Machina”, during which Louve was allowed to take the stage. Just like her bandmates, she was wearing a outfit that could have been used in Star Trek. It added to the spacey, disco-esque atmosphere the group was trying to create on stage. For a band trying to bring the ’80s back to the present, such well-thought-out decoration is indispensable. Just to say that the complete picture was correct. We saw an extremely professional show, with every tiny detail worked out down to the last detail. Especially with a song like “Me da igual”, with very fiery, biting synthesizers, the audience certainly appreciated that light show.
Basically we were treated to an almost continuous disco party last night. Even during the connecting lyrics of the Boisseguin, Gwon kept the beats coming and the transitions always followed each other, so that many songs flowed into each other. “Voodoo?”, which was split into two parts, for example, blended seamlessly into “Girl!” with the help of a technically strong synth part. During “Danza Marilù”, which was given an extended version, we noticed that the drummer, guitarist and especially the bassist also got their chance to be in the spotlight. Louve was also allowed to exhibit her talent there, because the lyrics of the song quickly switch from French to Italian.
We no longer have to worry about whether or not the fans approved of Louve: both when she took the stage and during “Agitations Tropicales”, one of the group’s biggest hits, the cheering around us exceeded even the volume of the PA. Even after the last song of the encore, some spectators were already chanting her name. So at least she no longer has to look for validation. It is probably already clear that the audience was frenzied. Although the speakers were quite loud, we still had to push our earplugs a little deeper several times due to the enormous volume we experienced in our area. People clapped their hands wildly, arms spontaneously went up into the air far into the room and we even saw dancing fans on the two upper floors.
It will therefore come as no surprise that the intensity with which the people around us experienced the concert was directly proportional to the spirit that L’Impératrice exhibited. We are also trying to imply that the set we experienced was actually just a series of highlights. Just after the second part of “Voodoo?” were treated to “Aerodynamic”, a cover of Daft Punk. We already mentioned them in the intro to this review, and it’s not the first time we noticed that influence. On “Piano Track Killer”, for example, which the group played as the last song of the show, the Frenchmen masterfully mixed that recognizable house and electro-pop style with funk and disco influences.
Anyone who was in the main hall of the Ancienne Belgique last night will confirm: L’Impératrice gave a five-star performance as if it were nothing. Highlights followed each other in quick succession and the audience enjoyed them. Hopefully we’ll see the band again soon; preferably at one of our festivals. It is time for the general public in Flanders and the Netherlands to become acquainted with this absolute craftsmanship. You can never replace an act like Daft Punk, but we think these musicians are the next best thing.
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Setlist:
Cosmogony
Amour ex Machina
the moon
Blue anomaly
I don’t care
Voodoo? (Part 1)
Girl!
Vacation
Marilù dance
Sweet and Sublime
Sun
Love From the Other Side
Voodoo? (Part 2)
Aerodynamic (Daft Punk)
Tropical agitations
Submarine
The swimming pool (Hypnolove)
Pacific Sonata
Error 404
Strawberry Vanilla
Piano Track Killer
