Steel & Velvet - Orphan’s Lament
The latest release by Steel & Velvet, a cover of Robbie Basho’s “Orphan’s Lament,” is a hauntingly beautiful homage to the late guitarist’s spiritual folk legacy. The Breton trio reimagines Basho’s deeply moving composition with their own brand of intimate acoustic artistry, bridging the worlds of classic folk tradition and contemporary authenticity. From the opening bars, the listener is drawn into a landscape of warmth and melancholy, where each note feels like a whispered confession beside a flickering campfire. Johann Le Roux’s intricate baritone vocals control the emotional flow of the track with grace and restraint. His delivery balances the sorrowful undercurrents of the song with a quiet, redemptive strength. Complementing this are Romuald Ballet-Baz whose subtle expressive fingerstyle guitar playing weaves delicate layers of melody and texture. The production embraces a carefully crafted stereo field, giving every plucked string and vocal nuance space to breathe. The result feels intimate yet cinematic: like a moment frozen in time, where silence carries as much weight as sound. “Orphan’s Lament” would fit seamlessly into the emotional fabric of docu-drama or biographical films such as The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind or Lion, both of which explore resilience and identity through the lens of orphanhood. The song’s plaintive tone and stripped-down aesthetic would enhance any scene that grapples with memory, loss, and belonging. In the indie music scene, Steel & Velvet continue to carve a distinct space for themselves. Formed in 2021 by Breton musicians Johann Le Roux and Romuald Ballet-Baz, later joined by Jean-Alain Larreur; the trio draws on classical training and blues-rock roots to craft their minimalist sound. Their rendition of “Orphan’s Lament” doesn’t just cover Basho’s masterpiece; it reawakens it with sincerity, depth, and timeless craftsmanship.
Steel & Velvet – People Just Float
Echoes Beneath the Dust The latest EP by Steel & Velvet, People Just Float, feels like a quiet storm rolling through a sun-scorched plain. Unhurried, deliberate, and deeply human. Drawing inspiration from the folk traditions of the past while flirting with the sepia tones of country nostalgia, the record inhabits the kind of sonic terrain where stillness carries weight. The opening cover, “Orphan’s Lament,” sets the reflective tone, its raw baritone timbre flowing seamlessly into the haunting ballad “Man in the Long Black Coat.” Both tracks shimmer with a sense of moral weariness that would sit comfortably in the world of Hell or High Water or The Rider, modern cowboy slow-burn dramas built around anti-heroic introspection. Across the EP, Steel & Velvet balance reverence for their influences with a steady confidence in their own minimalist aesthetic. Strings, Silence, and Space The mix on People Just Float stands out as one of its most striking achievements. With only acoustic guitars and vocals at its core, the production embraces space rather than filling it. Every element is placed with care within a carefully crafted stereo field, where the breath between notes feels as intentional as the playing itself. The pristine minimal fingerstyle guitar playing allows each harmonic to bloom naturally, while Johann Le Roux’s voice carries both grit and grace. In addition, there’s a vivid dynamic range throughout. The softest whisper of string slides contrasts beautifully against the weight of a baritone phrase. “Silver” introduces subtle complexity, layering delicate vocal harmonies that shimmer against a slide guitar gliding in and out of phrases like a ghost in the mix. Meanwhile, their acoustic rendition of Nirvana’s “Lake of Fire” leans into blues-inspired textures, transforming a grunge relic into a dusky lament that feels at home beside the works of Johnny Cash. Each track contributes to a cohesive whole that rewards attentive listening; an intimate studio experience where authenticity replaces excess, and the mix feels almost tactile. Folk Roots, Breton Heart In an indie music scene increasingly saturated with digital polish, Steel & Velvet stand apart through restraint. People Just Float doesn’t shout; it resonates. It feels born from long nights spent with worn instruments and unfiltered emotion, channeling both vulnerability and defiance. The Breton trio’s classical background subtly shapes their precision: every chord change, vocal harmony, and silence reflects a disciplined understanding of sound and structure. Yet beneath that control lies the soul of the American heartland, refracted through the mist of Brittany. Formed in 2021 from the friendship between vocalist Johann Le Roux and guitarist Romuald Ballet-Baz, later joined by Jean-Alain Larreur, Steel & Velvet craft music that speaks across borders and generations. Finally, with People Just Float, they prove that minimalism, when guided by honesty and craft, can sound monumental.