Paris (AFP)

For his majestic double-album "Portrait", Yann Tiersen invited musician-scouts: a "fantastic experience" as told by AFP Gruff Rhys, ex-leader of Super Furry Animals, Kazu Makino, singer of Blonde Redhead and Stephen O'Malley, figure from Sunn O))).

How is a meeting between a Breton who is reputed to be quiet and an introverted American? Invited by Tiersen to his lair on the island of Ouessant (800 inhabitants), O'Malley, icon of a metal drone with buzzing guitars, spent a very pleasant stay. But not to mention really a collaboration.

"This is what happens between two shy people like Yann and me," laughs O'Malley. It was Emilie (wife of Tiersen, musician present on her albums) who called me back to ask me if it would tell me to come back to record when I was back on the continent. It was funny, but above all it allowed me to go to Ouessant twice! "

When the hair made in Seattle returns, the regular ferry taken the first time does not operate. But a speedboat is waiting "for me, my bag and my guitar". "In the studio, Yann is very open, made me listen to a song, told me that I could do what I wanted. It's very generous. I took an hour to find an arrangement and offer them. Yann and Emilie were super enthusiastic! "

- "Energy of the elements" -

Master distortion, O'Malley offers a sound motif evoking "the energy of the elements", a memory of his first visit to the island. Unable to sleep, he went out walking towards the lighthouse as the wind picked up and the night streaked with lightning.

In the end, the American appeared on 3 titles of "Portrait", a set of 22 pieces from the Breton repertoire revisited and 3 creations, with Tiersen himself in production, assisted by Gareth Jones, who worked in particular with Depeche Mode.

O'Malley deploys his guitar on two titles, "Introductory movement", opus opening, and "Prad". "And they even asked me to read a text, which I had never done!", On "Thinking like a mountain", the last song. "This is what you need when you record: a beautiful place - the studio has a window on the ocean - beautiful people, super open, receptive, who trust you and take risks", he describes. "And I did a long walk the next morning it was magic," he concludes.

Gruff Rhys has also set foot on Ouessant and his voice at Eskal, the old dance hall - then disco - bought by Tiersen to make it his studio / concert hall / place of communal life. "I really learned a lot about my voice because Yann guided me to explore new vocal fields in interaction with his song and his piano playing", on "Monochrome", explains the former Super Furry Animals.

- "Really saving" -

"Welsh is my first language, so I have a great interest in its sister language, Breton," he continues. "It was another connection for me. I was amazed to see that there were lessons Breton weeklies for locals in the studio. "

"It was a fantastic experience. The island's climate and its environment, the ocean, the rocks, are magnificent and invigorating. And what a warm welcome! Yann's music is very moving, generous, open." The public will be able to enjoy it, with a 2020 tour soon announced.

Kazu Makino, who speaks of Tiersen's music as "playful showers", collaborated at a distance, but was nonetheless marked. "I had an intense summer and this song arrived at the right time for me. I was able to put away my crazy private life (painful break, note) and place all my emotions in this ethereal and ethereal movement (the song "Closer"). It was really saving for me ", she exposes without detour.

© 2020 AFP