José González’s debut album, Veneer, has made a lasting impression since its release twenty years ago. Recently, the Swedish artist has taken to revisiting it in concert, traveling through lands where his delicate folk resonates with echo.

Evoking such iconic figures as Nick Drake, Tim Buckley and Cat Stevens, González wields the acoustic guitar to plumb the emotional depths of the heart. However, his real strength lies in the language he deploys, a perfect marriage between voice and melody, a sweet, emotional and simple blend.

The concert at Victoria Hall (Antigel, February 4) is no exception. It offers the perfect setting to amplify Veneer’s woody touch and deliciously bewitching melodies. González’s voice creates a feeling of weightlessness, magnified by final chords played with increasing intensity. The second half of the show, after a first part lasting no more than thirty minutes due to the limited length of the album, sees José revisit classics already offered to thousands of spectators around the world. These include Joy Division’s legendary « Love Will Tear Us Apart », subtly rearranged by González. He plays on the minor notes, but the warmth emanating from his acoustic guitar transforms this post-punk iconic hit into a unique emotional experience.

José González’s magic lies in his ability to magnify pop songs often considered too sweet, like Kylie Minogue’s « Hand On Your Heart » produced by Stock Aitken and Waterman in the 80s and 90s. It enriches the song, breathes life into it, transcends it. There’s a philosophy, a magic in his guitar, a rhythm on the body, a mastery of chords that elevates every track. More broadly, there’s something religious about the Swede’s approach. The resonance in the old walls of Victoria Hall offers a powerful translation to Veneer and the cover songs, an ode to relaxation, reverence and meditation, expressed elsewhere during the Antigel festival.

On October 8 (Temple of Satigny), alongside James Yorkston and Nina Persson of the Cardigans, the exploration of the relationship to pop continues. Nina, the familiar voice of « Erase & Rewind », fills Geneva’s Protestant temple with her talent. James, like some kind of street troubadour, blends the joyful simplicity of folk guitar chords with the intense notes played on a piano, creating a unique atmosphere in the simple, ancestral temple of Satigny. The duet of voices, Nina Persson’s high note and James Yorkston’s low swells, captivate. Images of the sea, of farms won in a poker game, funny imagined lyrics like in « An Upturned crab » create a spellbinding voyage. James’ lyrics, as in « Mary », weave a lyrical dialogue, capturing the loving essence of the moment.

Love shines through

Certain aspects are reminiscent of a Christmas concert, an atmosphere conducive to lighting candles and welcoming the divine child, although we’re closer to Valentine’s Day. Love shines through in the duet, with the two musicians in perfect harmony, bringing James Yorkston’s songs to life. The concert continues with inspiration and humor. James’s colourful lyrics, such as « A Hollow skeleton lifts a wing », can sometimes be wearying in their repetition of motifs, but the Scottish bard skilfully plays on these contrasts.

Antigel, with its eclectic programming and unique mixes, offers an exceptional blend of musics and arts in Geneva’s historic surroundings. An opportunity, a privilege for the indie music lover that I am. The moments spent in these magnificent settings, with receptive and open-minded people, are moments to cherish. You could almost « die » in peace after tasting the beauty of the venues, the diversity of the performances and the vibrant soul of the festival, with other acts as Piers Faccini, Jay-Jay Johansson or the French touch ethereal duo Air.

Text and photos by David Glaser

Thanks to the Antigel Team and more particularly Laurence Jaquet.