The Electric Phantom’s first album uniquely blends dark electro-gothic music and timeless literary works, 12 poems from classic French poets such as Victor Hugo and Charles Baudelaire. This one-of-a-kind work combines evocative soundscapes with insightful words to explore themes of love, death, and the human soul.
The album is a tribute to French poetry’s vivid imagery and reflective depth. Poetic art (l’Art poétique) is fantastical. Baudelaire acknowledges that poetry can « ennoble manners » and raises « man above the level of vulgar interests. »
I released this album in 2020. Resurrecting 12 French poets through sound. Each track was painstakingly produced to capture the essence of a poet’s realm while retaining a unified thread. The end result? A collection that crosses the gap between the present and the beyond.
The beyond, where dark and sweet poetry lands
Spoken poetry is quite common, and I tried to create a lot more, thinking of the phantom, the fairy world and putting my voice on to sound like a call from beyond the gates or a direct conversation with you, crossing time, an interaction between the present and the past.
Diverse tunes mesh together to form a musical tapestry and retro meets dreamy contemplation. Something fun to match La cigale et la fourmi (the grasshopper and the ant) poem. Slow and nostalgic for the delightful time poem (l’heure exquise).
Each of the 12 tracks on the album is a unique and powerful interpretation of the original poems. I tried to interpret at best what the spirits whispered. The album Les Poètes (The French Poets) is now available.
Tracklist:
- I. Intro: Oceano Nox (Victor Hugo)
- II. l’Homme et la Mer (Charles Baudelaire)
- III. Talisman (Henri-Frédéric Amiel)
- IV. La Cigale et la Fourmi (Jean de La Fontaine)
- V. L’Heure Exquise (Paul Verlaine)
- VI. Ballade (Théophile Gautier)
- VII. A la Marquise (Pierre Corneille)
- VIII. Les Yeux (René-François Sully Prudhomme)
- IX. Asie (Mijo)
- X. Le Fantôme (Louise-Victorine Ackermann)
- XI. Chanson d’Automne (Paul Verlaine) / (Charles d’Orléans)
- XII. Le Temps (Gérard de Nerval)
Not available on streaming platforms yet
I was disappointed when I compared different distributors like Distrokid, LANDR, imusician and tested one of them, CDBaby, to release the first version of my album.
One of the most significant inconveniences was when I realized my album was published under another artist on Deezer! I could also not edit or use my art on TikTok or Instagram. No way I could upload a video with my music.
I decided not to publish my music on streaming platforms yet (except SoundCloud and YouTube), waiting for a SERIOUS label to work with and maybe slightly editing the audio (remixing, remastering) before broader distribution. Meanwhile, any help is more than welcome!
Electro gothic sound and classic French poems
Moonlighting, I made it all to accomplish this project: composing, recording, mixing, photography, drawing, designing, video, website, article, social media, etc.
The evocative music on the album is more than simply a backdrop; it’s a symphony of emotions. As evocative melodies and introspective lyrics merge, a mood is established that transports listeners to a dreamscape where poetry’s soul thrives.
It was one of my dreams to create an entire album, not only the music but a fantasy world. The album is for sale here, and I left some songs on my SoundCloud and YouTube profiles. I hope you appreciate it.
The track « Talisman »:
Lyrics:
Il est un feu discret qui se cache en ton âme,
Mais qui tremble et palpite à tous les coups du sort :
C’est l’espoir ! Défends bien cette petite flamme ;
Si la flamme s’éteint, ami, ton cœur est mort.Translation:
There is a discreet fire that hides in your soul,
That trembles and pulsates at every stroke of fate:
It’s hope !
Defend this little flame;
If the flame goes out, friend, your heart dies.Talisman, Henri-Frédéric Amiel (Genève 1821 – 1881).