TOURIST LEMC
The Arch (Main)
17:45 - 18:45
En route
Always on the way, it could have been the subtitle from En Route, the second album from Tourist LeMC, a powerful and multifaceted – and mature – continuation to his remarkable debut Antwerp Testament (2010). Tourist LeMC – Johannes Faes – becomes a masterful storyteller-conversationalist and keeps his title as unofficial Antwerp city troubadour nice honor. You could consider En Route as a coming of age-record, in which Tourist LeMC – now thirty – makes the balance of his youth. The result is a few sharp social criticism and somewhat spiritual, personal considerations.
It was at the time of Humo’s Rock Rally already clear, but with En Route Tourist LeMC forever bridges English folk and hip hop, and he not only keeps the legacy of Wannes Van De Velde honor, but he exploits a path hardly any folk singer/ hip hop artist did before him.
Tourist LeMC treats - in other words - uncharted territory. And that brings strong and at times haunting songs, because of the striking lyrics and strong production. What to think of titletrack “En Route”, a powerful statement of principles in which Tourist LeMC once and for all demands his place. (‘Toen ik de deur sloot, de wereld in trok / De straat op, mijn troep, mijn lot, /De dag op dag dagen op het ritme van hiphop, /Een enkeling geloofde, de meesten dachten zot, /MC, berucht of beroemd,/Ik werd Tourist, je hebt misschien al van mij gehoord), or ‘Verhalen van de wijk’, a touching testimony in which life for a few less fortunate people resembles running on a treadmill without a good ending (Grijze ogen lopen door de wijk,/De lijnen in 't gezicht vertellen generatiearm,/Flashback precies we liepen hier tien jaar geleden al,/In cirkels vicieus en onverkiesbaar als milfa) or ‘Miljonaire’, an homage to the old anthem “12 zakkenmiljonairs” from Djon Lundström. As a social worker from the Antwerp district Seefhoek he works and lives among his inspirations and stands with both feet on the ground. Behind his songs there are stories, no bling bling. The lyrics are stamped on a nice flow and groove, with recognizable themes, but never heavy-handed. Remarkable to En Route are that there are also collaborations with Flip Kowlier (“Troubadours”), Bart Peeters (in unadulterated Boechouts on "Meester Kunstenaar"), the Dutch artist Fit (“Adieu”) and Wally (“Horizon”). Each one of them likes to scan borders. Just as Tourist LeMC, with “En Route” year 2015, shows to be a rightful heir of Wannes Van De Velde, whose heritage is thought of with an unique adaptation of his “Deze Nacht”.
Tourist LeMC, Ristou le Troubadour, is always on the road and has something to tell.
Always on the way, it could have been the subtitle from En Route, the second album from Tourist LeMC, a powerful and multifaceted – and mature – continuation to his remarkable debut Antwerp Testament (2010). Tourist LeMC – Johannes Faes – becomes a masterful storyteller-conversationalist and keeps his title as unofficial Antwerp city troubadour nice honor. You could consider En Route as a coming of age-record, in which Tourist LeMC – now thirty – makes the balance of his youth. The result is a few sharp social criticism and somewhat spiritual, personal considerations.
It was at the time of Humo’s Rock Rally already clear, but with En Route Tourist LeMC forever bridges English folk and hip hop, and he not only keeps the legacy of Wannes Van De Velde honor, but he exploits a path hardly any folk singer/ hip hop artist did before him.
Tourist LeMC treats - in other words - uncharted territory. And that brings strong and at times haunting songs, because of the striking lyrics and strong production. What to think of titletrack “En Route”, a powerful statement of principles in which Tourist LeMC once and for all demands his place. (‘Toen ik de deur sloot, de wereld in trok / De straat op, mijn troep, mijn lot, /De dag op dag dagen op het ritme van hiphop, /Een enkeling geloofde, de meesten dachten zot, /MC, berucht of beroemd,/Ik werd Tourist, je hebt misschien al van mij gehoord), or ‘Verhalen van de wijk’, a touching testimony in which life for a few less fortunate people resembles running on a treadmill without a good ending (Grijze ogen lopen door de wijk,/De lijnen in 't gezicht vertellen generatiearm,/Flashback precies we liepen hier tien jaar geleden al,/In cirkels vicieus en onverkiesbaar als milfa) or ‘Miljonaire’, an homage to the old anthem “12 zakkenmiljonairs” from Djon Lundström. As a social worker from the Antwerp district Seefhoek he works and lives among his inspirations and stands with both feet on the ground. Behind his songs there are stories, no bling bling. The lyrics are stamped on a nice flow and groove, with recognizable themes, but never heavy-handed. Remarkable to En Route are that there are also collaborations with Flip Kowlier (“Troubadours”), Bart Peeters (in unadulterated Boechouts on "Meester Kunstenaar"), the Dutch artist Fit (“Adieu”) and Wally (“Horizon”). Each one of them likes to scan borders. Just as Tourist LeMC, with “En Route” year 2015, shows to be a rightful heir of Wannes Van De Velde, whose heritage is thought of with an unique adaptation of his “Deze Nacht”.
Tourist LeMC, Ristou le Troubadour, is always on the road and has something to tell.
