GRIMAUD, DOMINIQUE & VERONIQUE VILHET - ILES (LP)

"In 2013, Denis Tagu gave them a present: Atlas of Remote Islands by Judith Schalansky (Penguin Books, 2010) translated in french (Arthaud, Flammarion 2010). Very keen of this topic, they proposed to use this book as a base for composing music and an album. As InPolySons found the idea pretty good, Véronique and Dominique selected within this atlas, as well as in folk and scientific books, different islands that all have specific histories, sometimes tragic, sometimes funny, and always unexpected. Recording was performed without synthesizers (except a Synthi AKS for simulation of wave sound). The drums and Fender Stratocaster guitars are the main used instruments, with the sake for open unusual chords, such as those by Nick Drake, Peter Finger or Michael Hedges. For some musical atmospheres, some additional instruments have been added: spinet, balafo, National steel guitar, alto and baryton saxophones, mouth harp. At the end, 12 pieces that correspond to 12 real or imaginary islands, with 12 outlines and fates turns by turns knocked-up, rusty, torn to shreds, disturbing, wild, uneven, pushed, tormented, comical, unusual, charming, colourful... a nice discovery." (label info)