Ariettes oubliées...
2012 album by Les Discrets
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Ariettes oubliées... (Forgotten Arias...) is the second full-length album by Les Discrets, released in 2012 by Prophecy Productions. "Ariettes oubliées... I: Je Devine à travers un murmure..." was released as a music video directed by Audrey Hadorn.[4]
| Ariettes oubliées... | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 10 February 2012 | |||
| Recorded | January–November 2011 | |||
| Studio | Drudenhaus Studio, Issé, France | |||
| Genre | Post-metal, post-rock, shoegaze | |||
| Length | 42:46 | |||
| Language | French | |||
| Label | Prophecy Productions | |||
| Producer | Martin Koller for Prophecy Productions | |||
| Les Discrets chronology | ||||
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Musical style
Ariettes oubliées... is categorised as a post-metal, shoegaze[2] and post-rock record[1] with elements of gothic pop and black metal.[1] The mood of the album ranges from bright and hopeful to mysterious and bleak,[3] emphasizing delicacy, restraint, and atmosphere over aggression or shock.[1]
Compared to the band's debut album, Septembre et ses dernières pensées (2010), Ariettes oubliées... presents a denser and more cohesive sound. According to the frontman Fursy Teyssier, the songwriting process was more focused and spontaneous, with a clearer understanding of the desired atmosphere and concept. While the debut album was composed over the course of seven years, Ariettes oubliées... was written in two, resulting in a more polished and consistent output.[5] Nevertheless, the reviewer of Sputnikmusic viewed the album as more reserved and less dynamic than its predecessor, with a perceived lack of "exhilarating details" and a reduced emphasis on metal influences.[3]
Instrumentation on the album includes a prominent use of acoustic guitar, which interacts with electric guitar textures to create a contrast between warmth and coldness.[1][3] The ebow was used on "La Traversée" to produce an otherworldly quality, though Teyssier noted its potential to detract from musical personality if overused. Vocal performances are understated, with Teyssier's voice mixed low and blurred into the instrumentation. He described his vocal style as expressive rather than conventionally beautiful, intended to convey meaning rather than dominate the soundscape.[5] Audrey Hadorn contributed with the breathy, poetic vocals,[1] and drummer Winterhalter's performance was praised for its nuance, though Teyssier expressed some dissatisfaction with the drum mix due to technical issues during tracking.[5]
Track listing
All lyrics are written by Audrey Hadorn except track 4 by Paul Verlaine and track 5 by Fursy Teyssier; all music is composed by les Discrets except track 5 by Neb Xort.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Linceul d’hiver (Winter Shroud)" | 2:50 |
| 2. | "La Traversée (The Crossing)" | 8:23 |
| 3. | "Le Mouvement perpétuel (The Perpetual Motion)" | 6:55 |
| 4. | "Ariettes oubliées... I: Je devine à travers un murmure... (Forgotten Arias... I: I Understand Through a Whisper...)" | 5:31 |
| 5. | "La Nuit muette (The Mute Night)" | 5:49 |
| 6. | "Au creux de l'hiver (In the Middle of Winter)" | 4:36 |
| 7. | "Après l'ombre (After the Shadow)" | 4:33 |
| 8. | "Les Regrets (The Regrets)" | 4:09 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Le Souffle froid (The Cold Breath)" | 1:49 |
| 2. | "Ariettes oubliées... II: Il Pleure dans mon cœur... (Forgotten Arias... II: He Cries in My Heart...)" | 3:04 |
| 3. | "L'Échappée (The Breakaway)" (Acoustic version) | 4:15 |
Personnel
- Les Discrets
- Fursy Teyssier – lead vocals, guitars, bass, artwork
- Winterhalter – drums
- Audrey Hadorn – spoken vocals
- Additional musicians
- Gianluca Divirgilio (Arctic Plateau) – vocals in "Ariettes oubliées... II: Il Pleure dans mon cœur..."