Michael Mantler – Comment C’Est (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 51:29 minutes | 494 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download – Source: HDTracks | Booklet, Front Cover | © ECM Records
Composer Michael Mantler’s “Comment c’est” is a song cycle for female voice and chamber orchestra, re-thinking the voice of electro-pop singer Himiko Pagnotti in an art music context. The Max Brand ensemble brings their dedication to innovative art and new forms of listening to this project, making for a powerful release dealing with a range of themes such as war, terrorism, migration, poverty and fear in the contemporary world.
Declaring that he is “no longer able to ignore overwhelming and outrageous recent world events”, trumpeter and composer Michael Mantler leaves the world of abstract music behind to tackle a host of contemporary evils head-on in ‘Comment c’est’.
His texts for the album, sung by French-born singer Himiko Paganotti, respond to what he calls “the all-pervading environment of hatred, greed and corruption.” Comment c’est “refers specifically and reacts strongly to recent events and concerns itself with a range of deadly serious subjects, such as war, terrorism, hostages, migration, poverty, fear and the exceedingly sorry state of the world in general”.
Tracklist:
01 – Aujourd’hui
02 – Intolérance
03 – Guerre
04 – Commerce
05 – Hiver
06 – Sans fin
07 – Folie
08 – Pourquoi
09 – Après
10 – Que dire de plus
Produced by Michael Mantler. Engineered by Martin Vetters.
Recorded in April 2016 at Porgy & Bess Studio, Vienna, Austria.
Additional Recording, Mix and Mastering in June/July 2016 at Studios La Buissonne,
Pernes-les-Fontaines, France. Engineers: Gerard de Haro, Nicolas Baillard.
Musicians:
Himiko Paganotti – voice
Michael Mantler – trumpet
David Helbock – piano
Max Brand Ensemble – Conducted by Christoph Cech.
Download: