Biography
Déportivo emerged as a French alternative rock band when their debut album earned strong critical praise upon its 2004 arrival. The group originated in Bois-d'Arcy, a commune located in Yvelines within Île-de-France, and operates as a power trio with Jérôme Coudane on guitar and vocals, Richard Magnac on bass, and Julien Bonnet on drums. Their first recordings appeared that same year through the Parisian independent label La Village Vert, beginning with the maxi-single La Salade and continuing soon after with the full-length Parmi Eux. Although Parmi Eux did not achieve immediate commercial breakthrough, favorable word of mouth in the ensuing months helped it ascend the French albums chart. The album also yielded the singles "Roma" and "À l'Avance" before being repackaged with additional tracks and reissued in February 2005, when it reached number 90 on the French albums chart. For their next effort, the self-titled Déportivo, the band worked with producer Gordon Raphael, known for his contributions to the Strokes' Is This It (2001). Issued in 2007 via Universal Music France, the record climbed into the Top 30 of the French albums chart and included the single "La Brise." Despite missing the unexpected quality of their first release, Déportivo drew comparable critical approval.