Lilium

Lilium is a United States-based group led by Pascal Humbert, originally a solo project and later a duo with drummer Jean-Yves Tola. The name is said to mean “fortress”. Humbert is also known as the bass player in 16 Horsepower.

Formation and members

The project begins as a long-running solo endeavour for Humbert, with work on Transmission Of All The Good-Byes spanning 1984 to 2000. Lilium then becomes a duo after Jean-Yves Tola joins from 16 Horsepower. The group remains active, and its lineup later centres again on Humbert alongside Bruno Green, while Tola ceases involvement. Guest contributors on the later material include Kal Cahoone, Hugo Race and others.

Releases

Lilium’s first album, Transmission Of All The Good-Byes, is mainly instrumental and appears in 2000 on Glitterhouse Records. The second album, Short Stories, follows in 2003 as a collaboration between Humbert and Tola. It includes guest appearances from David Eugene Edwards, Dana Colley, Daniel McMahon and Tom Barman. The record also has a US edition from Twist & Shout Records with three bonus tracks, including original music for the short film The Rain Has Forgotten Us, directed by Mary-Lyn Chambers. A DVD-Audio version of Short Stories is later issued by Glitterhouse in 2004.

The third album, Felt, appears in 2010.

Style and associations

Lilium is associated with alt-country, folk, gothic americana, singer-songwriter and indie music. Its recordings connect closely with the 16 Horsepower circle, through Humbert, Tola and guest vocalist David Eugene Edwards, who is also associated with Woven Hand and 16 Horsepower.