![]() ![]() If we talk exclusively about the piano, Yann Tiersen revealed himself as a one trick pony, no matter how good the trick is. Instead, they just sounded like 10 different parts of the same piece. During his performance in Barcelona I never got the feeling that I was facing 10 different piano pieces. First of all, do you remember his peculiar piano style? The style that has been strangely likened to Satie? (I would put it closer to Ludovico Einaudi.) Ok, so I hope you like his piano style, because his latest album seem to be the same playing style over and over. However, several things struck my attention during his latest concert in Barcelona at the Palau de la Musica. I have been more than 15 years following his work, and I saw him live for the first time more than 10 years ago. ![]() There is little doubt in the fact that Yann Tiersen is extremely talented. Tiersen scored the soundtrack for the film Tabarly and subsequently released a string of studio albums including 2010’s “Dust Lane”, 2011’s “Syline, and 2014’s “∞ (Infinity)”, the latter which was issued on the label Mute. This release featured some of Tiersen’s past collaborators like Dominique A, but also featured legendary French Pop stars like Jane Birkin. Tiersen released his score for the film “Good Bye Lenin!’ before putting out his next official studio album, 2005’s “Les Retrouvailles”. The material from his 2002 live album “C'Était Ic” is built from this tour. This album was also a huge success in France and in support of this album he went on an extensive tour which lasted from 2001 to 2002. Tiersen’s next feature length album “L’Absente” also featured Dominique A as well as contributions from Hannon and Lisa Germano. The album’s standout single “Monochrome” featured pop sensation Dominique A and it’s incessant radio play shot the album into the French mainstream. Though Tiersen’s recognition leapt exponentially after the release of the “Amélie” soundtrack, his first taste of fame was with the release of his 3rd album “Le Phare”. 2 on the US Billboard Top World Music Albums. It also topped the French Albums chart and placed at No. The album was a critical and commercial hit winning the World Soundtrack Award for Best Original Score of the Year and the Cesar Award for Best Music Written for a Film. Tracks from this album as well as Tiersen’s other first four albums were included on the overwhelmingly popular soundtrack “Amélie”. “Rue des cascades” title track whose vocals were handled by Claire Pichet was included in the Palme d’Or nominated film “The Dreamlife of Angels”. Tracks from both of these albums were included in high profile films, and this publicity helped immensely in opening the public eyes to the talent of Tiersen. Though Tiersen’s first two album’s were criminally overlooked by critics and the general public, they have since gone on to earn great respect. In April, 1996 he released his 2nd studio album “Rue des cascades”. Using what he called “musical anarchy” as a guide, he relied on instinct and incorporated whatever instrument he thought sounded interesting whether it was something as elaborate as a harpsichord or cheeky as a toy piano. Though Tiersen’s sound did not display the raw punk sonics of his influences like the Stooges, he nevertheless adopted many of punk’s ethos, primarily its dadaist perspective of abandoning any restricting conventions and starting anew. Some of the recordings he had written for these plays and short films ended up on his debut album “La Valse des monstres”, which was released in 1995 and limited to only 1,000 copies. ![]() Tiersen further developed his sound and went on to compose music for short films and plays, using the electric guitar, violin, and accordion for the bulk of the instrumentation. Armed with a drum machine, a mixing board, synthesizer, and an 8 track tape recorder he started to create minimalist electronic music. The city was the host of the music festival Recontres Trans Musicales and at this event he saw acts ranging from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Television, Suicide, and Nirvana.Ī few years after the dissolution of Tiersen’s band he ventured into a solo career. Tiersen was exposed to many innovative experimental punk musicians during his stay in Rennes. When he was 13 he departed from classical music and formed a rock band. While studying abroad Tiersen was captivated by the music and subculture of the punk movement. Tiersen progressed quickly with his music and eventually moved to various music academies in Rennes, Nantes, and Boulogne where he received classical training. At age four he began piano training and just two years later he picked up the violin. Tiersen was born in 1970 in Brest, France and began playing music at an extremely young age. ![]()
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