By Laura Bond
Arizona Daily Wildcat
April 9, 1998

Ah, L'Amor!

Naïm Amor is at a loss for words to describe the sound of the Amor Belhom Duo, the increasingly buzzed-about outfit in which he serves as one guitar-playing half. This is not to suggest that the music of the Duo doesn't inspire all kinds of purple prose; common descriptors include the words "inspired," "compelling," "genius," etc. In fact, Amor and drummer Thomas Belhom remain quiet on the subject simply because, as Belhom puts it, "Our English is not that good."

Amor Belhom is the latest in a series of revolving monikers that have surrounded this enigmatic twosome since their arrival in Tucson last November. It seems that whatever name they adopt to promote their ever-changing live performances around town, though, many fans still refer to them as "those French guys." Indeed, as the Old Pueblo's premier purveyor of sounds from the streets of Paris, it's a reliable nomenclature.

Looking over the band's setup at their downtown concert at Press 101, it's easy to be somewhat confused by the variety of random items strewn about the make-shift stage. Cowbells, flour sifters and heavy lead frying pans hang from Belhom's elaborate drum kit. At the foot of Amor's microphone are tiny plastic push-button boomboxes and other toys you might get with a year's subscription to Ranger Rick.

As the two take the stage, the question is inevitably raised: can two diminutive Frenchmen of few words, armed with a bevy of utilitarian items serving as instruments, pack a punch? The answer is a resoundingoui!

Two is a perfect number for Amor Belhom, as it reflects not only the perfect coupling of these seemingly psychically linked players, but also the somewhat schizophrenic nature of their music. Amor's well-weathered Fender Mustang, at times manipulated with a "spoon slide," provides evidence of repeat trips across the Atlantic Ocean. His frenzied assaults sometimes sound like a car trying to start on a cold morning; other times, they evoke the violin. Or a screeching cat in heat.

Behind the drums, Belhom mildy resembles a man having a seizure, spastically banging on everything within his reach, at times adjusting the positioning of symbols and snares to better suit his percussive needs. Occasionally, he chimes in with the Amor Belhom equivalent of a brass section - a small metal police whistle.

Beautiful and melodic one moment, their sonic landscapes can launch unexpectedly into frenetic sound storms the next. The result is a potpourri of free jazz, noise, rock and roll, even a touch of lounge befitting any Burt Bacharach album - that is, if Burt ever recorded an avant-garde record on the left bank of ol' Paris.

The crowd at Press 101 on this Tuesday evening is visibly wowed by the soon-to-be famous Frenchmen, as are the Press 101 dogs, who are barking and howling happily as Le Duo do their thing. At one point, an audience member whispers into the ear of a friend, "My God. I think these guys are insane!" Judging by his expression, it is a sincere sentiment of admiration.

Amor Belhom Duo is currently recording a full-length CD, a collaborative effort with Joey Burns of Giant Sand/Calexico fame. The two can also be heard on the soundtrack for "Low Y Cool," a documentary filmed in and about Tucson for French TV by fellow French Tucson emigree, Marianne Dissard. "Low Y Cool" screens April 17 at the Screening Room, as part of the Arizona International Film Festival.

Vive Le Duo!