Cat No 3785112

This live album from Yann Tiersen is very different from his previous studio output. It’s virtually a new album - not a live recreation of his well-known material. This is Tiersen with electric guitar strapped on and a touring band - there’s no accordion, violin, etc for the multi-instrumentalist, and only a bit of piano - he’s revealing some of his rock roots here - a teenage fan of Nick Cave, Joy Division and suchlike.

Here he gives us shimmering guitars, some dense rock sequences & the strange sound of an Ondes Martenot organ. Tiersen also takes most of the vocals - although Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins sings lead on one number, and French female rapper Diam sings “Ma France a Moi” with Tiersen & band at the Printemps de Bouges festival, with Gregoire from rock band Tetes Raides on sax. Guitarists Marc Sens (who featured on Tiersen’s albums “L’Absente” & “C’Etait Ici”) and Katel also make guest appearances.

This is a bold move for Yann Tiersen and not all his existing fans may want to make this jump with him - although a whole new audience might well do - however, somehow there’s still that distinct Tiersen style underpinning things - his fine melodic, harmonic and compositional touch.