Search - Sylvain Chauveau :: Un Autre December

Quiet is the new loud

Kelly P. Young | Washington, DC USA | 07/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the third disc from French minimalist composer/performer Sylvain Chauveau. Following up 2001's "Nocturne Impalpable", which is largely performed on strings with very slight electornic embellishments (mostly between tracks), "Un Autre December" relies on very spare and beautiful piano work (one track features accoridan). Comparisons to Erik Satie or even Debussy are not far off, though this work would not be normally be placed in the "classical" category. A perfect album for when night falls, the clouds roll in, or the weather finally turns towards the autumnal equinox.This bit from the Fat Cat website illuminates his reason for the title and texture of the recording:The idea of the title comes from a beautiful old song by Jacques Brel called "Jaurus". Talking about the generation of his grandparents, working hard in the mines, he sings : "The twelve months were called December" (Les douze mois s'appelaient décembre). "Un autre décembre" (another December) is my answer, which means that comfort and health didn't prevent our generation from sadness and insatisfaction, and that we also live in winter, even if it's a little warmer.This is an absolutely breathtaking record by arguably one of the brightest talents operating in any genre. His relative current obscurity outside (or even inside) of France is sorely in need of changing."