Les Innocents

One of France's most respected pop acts, Les Innocents operated as a jangly pop band and issued four albums from 1989 to 1999, each reflecting the accomplished songwriting and musical craftsmanship of leaders J.P. Nataf and Jean-Christophe Urbain. Their trajectory gained momentum in 1987 thanks to the breakthrough of the single "Jodie," after which their initial trio of LPs generated additional hits that ranged from "Colore" to "Un Autre Finistère." The first three records—Cent Metres au Paradis in 1989, Fous à Lier in 1992, and Post Partum in 1995—solidified the group's standing, whereas the disappointing sales of their final effort, the self-titled Les Innocents in 1999, set in motion a dissolution that saw J.P. Nataf pursue a solo path to investigate fresh musical and lyrical directions. A retrospective compilation, Meilleurs Souvenirs, appeared in 2003, and a decade after their previous studio work, speculation about a reunion tour began to circulate. The band regrouped in 2015, resulting in the release of Mandarine.