Yann Tiersen - Skyline

  by Paul Waller

published: 9 / 12 / 2011

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Review

On first listen Frenchman Yann Tiersen’s latest record is quite the cold and sombre affair. Lots of minor chords bring a somewhat melancholic feel to the proceedings. 'Skyline' is my introduction to Yann and I have to admit I was expecting a far more reflective and folky record. A layman like me would see the track titles like 'Forgive Me' and 'I’m Gonna Live Anyhow' and believe this initial thought to be correct but once you have heard it, underlining this record is a huge grasp of what is commonly known as post rock, the sort of sonic path that Explosions in the Sky and Mogwai tread. This is something that I didn’t expect at all, especially if you are familiar with Tiersen’s soundtrack work for the film 'Amelie' which I am now. How he travelled from that to this is a musical tale I may well have to explore. 'I’m Gonna Live Anyhow' is every bit as ethereal and experimental as anything on the new Fleet Foxes record ,but the production is a little too bright for my liking. Thankfully 'Skyline' begins to make a skewed kind of sense with the wobbly perfection of 'Hesitation Wound'. It’s on this track in particular that the listener is transported upon a freaky musical journey of discovery - That discovery being just how many studio effects and bizarre sounds can be embezzled into a four minute song and still make complete sense. It’s honestly insane that this works so well. So far this week I’ve listened to this record a dozen times and I fear I haven’t even scratched the surface. It’s a brave and bleak listen and the freezing cold vibe that emanates from this disc could well thaw with time but for now I feel I am still just chipping away at some impenetrable black of ice.

Track Listing:-

1 Another shore
2 I'm gonna live anyhow
3 Monuments
4 The Gutter
5 Exit 25 block 20
6 Hesitation wound
7 Forgive Me
8 The Trial
9 Vanishing Point

Band Links:-

http://yanntiersen.com/
https://www.facebook.com/yanntiersen.o
https://twitter.com/yanntiersen
https://www.youtube.com/user/YannTiers
https://plus.google.com/11437963053820
https://www.songkick.com/artists/34968

Label Links:-

http://mute.com/
https://www.facebook.com/muterecords
https://twitter.com/MuteUK
https://www.youtube.com/user/themutech

Have a Listen:-