In the French rock landscape, few names have risen with the sheer force and sincerity of Bolidde. A singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, and vocalist, he has carved his place as a key figure, armed with a repertoire that sits effortlessly at the crossroads of rock and pop. Since releasing his first solo album in 2022 and sharing the stage with giants like Trust and Louis Bertignac, Bolidde has proven not only his technical skill but his charisma on stage. His Anglo-Saxon influences pulse through his music, giving it electric power and melodic finesse, and with Rainbow Galaxy, he ventures into bold new territory—melding polished production, soaring melodies, and hard-hitting riffs into an immersive sonic journey.
Released in April, Rainbow Galaxy announces itself as a full-bodied statement, one that embraces joy, nostalgia, social consciousness, and deeply personal storytelling. Each track feels alive, vividly painted with lyrical imagery and layered instrumentation, creating an emotional and electrifying listening experience.
“Merry Go Round” opens the album with a burst of color and kinetic energy, spinning us into a mishmash of carnival life. Through snapshots of “snow, rain, shine, thunder” and “grass, blacktop, stone, sand,” Bolidde crafts a living, breathing world where the show never stops. Vocally, his performance is dynamic and commanding—one moment riding high on melodic lines, the next rallying the crowd with exuberant shouts of “Hey oh!” and “Are you ready?” The production is layered with bright synths, punchy drums, and shimmering guitar riffs, all of which create a “sea of light” that mirrors the spectacle he describes. It’s both an invitation and a celebration, setting the tone for the rest of the album.
“Lea” shifts gears into tender nostalgia, evoking the magic of a youthful summer romance. The lyrical details, “Marley’s songs,” “stolen kisses at the school red gate,” “playing tunes like Purple Haze”—are so vivid they feel like pages from a personal scrapbook. Bolidde’s warm, earnest vocal delivery imbues the song with sincerity, capturing the sweetness and longing of first love. The jangly guitars and steady backbeat give the track an upbeat groove, yet a wistful undercurrent runs through it, making “Lea” one of the album’s most emotionally resonant moments.
At the core of the album sits its title track, “Rainbow Galaxy”, a politically charged rock anthem that refuses to sit quietly. Here, Bolidde calls out “tyranny dressed like a democracy,” demanding that leaders “share the cake” and “stop the fake.” His vocals strike the perfect balance between raw passion and melodic control, transforming the chorus into both an earworm and a rallying cry. The driving rhythm section and searing guitar riffs push the song forward with urgency, while the crisp, balanced mix ensures the message hits hard without sacrificing musical punch.
“Hell In Paradise” deepens the album’s social conscience, blending environmental lament with personal reflection. Lines like “I watched the cows graze in the hills. No one told me about meat and bone meals” deliver a jolt of truth, framed by the haunting refrain “Between the devil and the deep blue sea.” Bolidde’s vocals here are raw and earnest, and the arrangement—steady rhythms, layered guitars, and a clear, focused mix keeps the message front and center. It’s a track that stays long after it ends.
With “Mr Tchain”, Bolidde turns his storytelling lens toward the satirical, crafting a sharp cautionary tale about manipulation and exploitation. The “silver tongue” predator at the heart of the song is as chilling as he is charismatic, and Bolidde’s slightly theatrical vocal delivery gives the track a sly, knowing edge. The gritty rock backbone; punchy drums, tight bass, biting guitar riffs keeps the narrative taut and gripping.
“Try My Love” offers a sultry counterpoint, replacing social critique with intimate persuasion. Here, the plea, “But if you try my love, we could be so good, yeah really so good” is tender and determined, urging a loved one to leave behind “snakes in the grass” for something real. The warm basslines, understated guitar flourishes, and smooth, polished tones give the song a breezy, late-night groove. Vocally, Bolidde blends charm and sincerity, making it impossible not to lean in and listen.
In “Golden Age”, nostalgia takes center stage. Through the eyes of “regular fella” Terry Jaylimati, Bolidde channels the soul of a time when music was raw and analog, name-checking legends like B.B., Jimi, Stevie, Freddie, Gary, and Jerry. The blues-rock swagger is infectious, with chunky guitar riffs and a rhythm section that swings with old-school warmth. His vocal delivery has a lived-in grit, lending authenticity to the disdain for “modern days” and the worship of “the old LP.”
“Questioning” offers one of the album’s most introspective moments, capturing the restless pursuit of meaning in poetic fragments: “A reader of the book of love, apprentice lost in creation,” “Days of waiting, full of doubt, years of fighting with no way out.” The repeated refrain “It’s alright, alright, alright” becomes a quiet mantra of resilience. The airy, organic production and understated instrumentation create a reflective atmosphere where the lyrics can breathe.
From there, “Odd Noises” plunges us into a haunting soundscape of ghostly imagery—“Only me and my shadow… dead voices in my walls.” The measured, tension-filled vocals and echo-laden guitars evoke the creeping paranoia of a haunted home, while subtle percussive details mimic phantom footsteps. It’s an audio séance, rich in atmosphere and detail.
The album closes on a gut-punch with “Run Away”, a stark portrait of women—Jenny, Luna, Wendy—trapped in cycles of abuse and addiction. The refrain “crying, praying, waiting / hurting, praying, hoping” cuts to the bone, delivered with gritty intensity. The moody rock foundation and unrelenting rhythm make the song feel like a ticking clock, urging escape before it’s too late.
As a whole, Rainbow Galaxy is a masterclass in balancing thematic variety with sonic cohesion. The vocals are consistently commanding, and draws us into each story. The instrumentation is rich and intentional: jangly guitars for nostalgia, biting riffs for political fire, airy textures for introspection, and gritty backbones for tales of warning. The production is polished yet organic, giving each track clarity without sanding away its emotional edge.
With this album, Bolidde offer worlds. He invites us to step into the magic of the carnival, the warmth of summer romance, the heat of political uprising, the ache of lost innocence, and the quiet rooms where ghosts stay. Rainbow Galaxy is fearless, thoughtful, and deeply human—an essential listen for anyone who believes rock can still tell the stories that matter.
Listen to the “Rainbow Galaxy” album on Spotify
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