There was a palpable sense of reverence in the room last night as Martin Dupont took the stage at Le Poisson Rouge. The long-running French ensemble, whose origins stretch back to the early 1980s, were greeted with warmth and affection — a welcome that felt less like a typical New York crowd and more like a reunion among kindred spirits. From the first notes, it was clear that their music retains a rare, timeless quality: atmospheric, elegant, and quietly powerful.
The interplay between Alain Seghir and Sandy Casado was particularly moving. Their connection—part telepathy, part tenderness—anchored the set’s emotional core. Seghir’s understated vocals and Casado’s ethereal presence created a hypnotic vibe that felt like a calming salve for a fractured world. The projected visuals behind the band deepened the spell, evoking memories of Massive Attack’s cinematic use of imagery to heighten mood and meaning.
Across a career-spanning setlist, Martin Dupont conjured a soundscape both cinematic and precise, echoing faint shades of Siouxsie and the Banshees and Kraftwerk — yet never losing their singular identity.. Their nocturnal chill and delicate rhythmic undercurrents shimmered with both melancholy and grace. At Le Poisson Rouge, the band’s interplay felt effortless — electronic pulses breathing alongside live instrumentation, creating an atmosphere that was simultaneously intimate and cinematic. It was a reminder of how much emotional terrain can exist within restraint, each song unfolding like a whispered secret from another era, rediscovered in the present moment.
When the band returned for an encore, the moment was quietly transcendent. They seemed humbled, even surprised, by the outpouring of love from the audience — a love that flowed right back toward them in waves. It was one of those rare nights where the boundary between artist and audience dissolved completely, leaving only shared gratitude and beauty. Martin Dupont didn’t just perform last night; they reminded us of music’s power to heal, connect, and endure.
Words and Photos by Jonathan Levitt ( Instagram: El Chingon Photography)
Beautiful review, Jonathan!!