Sebastien Tellier - Starlight Ballroom (Philadelphia, PA; Apr. 4, 2009)

It was telling that there only seemed to be about 100 people on the dance floor when acclaimed French music maestro Sebastien Tellier took the stage at the Starlight Ballroom. Tellier was the featured artist of Making Time’s monthly club night on April 4. However, it was moved to a smaller venue usually reserved for rock shows, and while the place didn’t look inappropriate for getting down, it was pretty clear: no one in Philadelphia really cares about Sebastien Tellier.

Despite the attention-worthy name drop of Sexuality-production executive Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo from Daft Punk, Tellier’s tunes didn’t really resonate with much of anyone in a live setting, mostly because he didn’t give them a chance. Tellier only played about six songs before inexplicably walking off stage. The set was just over twenty-five minutes long.

It might be going too far to say it was short and sweet, but maybe more accurately, short with shrugs and “it could have been better.” Tellier played some of his best songs, “Sexual Sportswear” and “Divine,” and a fantastic version of “L’amour Et La Violence” to close the set. The live version of the latter still has the classically-influenced keyboards, but kicks into a percussion jam that reaches a more club-appropriate energy level.

It seemed that Tellier felt misplaced among the DJ sets, because in truth his performance wasn’t bad, just far too short. His music is, in essence, pop with disco influence, but draws deeply from an interpretation of soul that if isn’t realized by fans in an appropriate setting, doesn’t serve much of a purpose. Tellier’s old work, like the song “Fantino,” which appears on the Lost in Translation soundtrack, is significantly more telling of that soul influence than most of everything on Sexuality. But that wouldn’t be appropriate for a Making Time event, either. In Philadelphia, in early Spring, Sebastien Tellier was out of place, and still feeling out who he is and what his music has become.