Edgar de l'Est

Edgar de l'Est, whose name is inspired by a play on words, was formed in Bordeaux in 1992 by Edgar Daguier (guitar) and Isabelle Becker (vocals, piano, accordion), and included François Borie (violin), Philippe Martin (bass) and Denis Barthe (drums), also known as a member of Noir Désir. After a number of high-profile appearances on the local scene, the group's chanson réaliste sound, cradled in traditional music ranging from gypsy jazz to Oriental and Eastern European music, recorded the album La Berlue (1995), which was the subject of a major tour that included appearances at Printemps de Bourges and Les Francofolies de La Rochelle. The tour brought Edgar de l'Est to national attention, and they were signed to the Virgin France label, which released their second album, Ces Jours-Ci (1999). However, the unstable line-up evolved with other musicians from La Mano Negra, Sleeppers and other groups. Between tours, however, they recorded a third album, Les Vacances (2002), which proved a big hit with the new French alternative rock and chanson scene. Edgar Daguier continued to perform under the Edgar name, recording the album Mon Amour (2005). Put on hiatus for several years, the band reunited in 2012 to record a final album entitled Les Retrouvailles (2012), before disappearing. Singer Isabelle Becker, who in the meantime formed the rock band Wandarine, author of the album Poke-Rope (2004), died on May 7, 2024 at the age of 59.

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