Écailles de lune

Écailles de lune ("Moon Scales") is the second studio album by French blackgaze band Alcest, released on March 26, 2010 by Prophecy Productions. It is the first Alcest album featuring Winterhalter on drums. Although it continues in the direction started with the first album Souvenirs d'un autre monde, Écailles de lune marks a darker, louder transition into shoegaze, while also coming back to the band's black metal origins as it features harsh vocals like those found on their second release Le Secret.

Écailles de lune
Studio album by
Alcest
ReleasedMarch 26, 2010 (2010-03-26)
Recorded2009
StudioKlangschmiede Studio E, Mellrichstadt, Germany
GenreBlackgaze, post-metal
Length41:39
LanguageFrench
LabelProphecy Productions
ProducerMartin Koller
Alcest chronology
Souvenirs d'un autre monde
(2007)		 Écailles de lune
(2010)		 Les Voyages de l'Âme
(2012)

Alcest mastermind Neige said of the album's concept, "This story isn't really a metaphor of death, as it would seem to be. For me, it is about a man who decides to leave one world for another one, literally. Like a passage to another reality, another state of existence... This time I was especially inspired by the seaside, the energy and the exaltation you can feel when you sit in front of the sea at night. It appears terribly fascinating, full of secrets and scary at the same time."[1] "Solar Song" is sung in glossolalia, and "Sur l'océan couleur de fer" is a musical version of the poem by Paul-Jean Toulet. "Abysses" was written and performed in its entirety by Fursy Teyssier of Les Discrets, who also created the album's artwork.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[2]
AllMusic[3]
Metal Storm8.7/10[4]
Pitchfork8.4/10[5]
PopMatters9/10[6]
Sputnikmusic[7]

The album received positive reviews upon release. Ned Raggett of AllMusic gave the album four stars out of five, and in particular praised Neige's vocal performance, writing that "Neige's singing is some of his loveliest at many points throughout the album, a soft keen toward the middle of the second half of the title track, a low and contemplative rumination elsewhere – if not notably different from his earlier work in approach, it's at its most enjoyable here, and perhaps at its most beautifully serene on 'Solar Song', vocals overlaid to lovely effect."[3]

Invisible Oranges praised the album, concluding that, "Sometimes the things you love don't need or don't benefit from explanation. The singularity of purpose oozes off this album – you just get it. Lead guitarist and compositional lynchpin Neige says Alcest is his way of musically translating an 'indescribably beautiful haven' that he first perceived as a child. That seems to be the common thread between the artists Alcest allegedly hybridize, My Bloody Valentine and Burzum: a single-minded longing for alternate realities. Kudos to Alcest for bridging musical worlds by listening to their heart."[8]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Neige, except "Sur l'océan couleur de fer" by Paul-Jean Toulet; all music is composed by Neige, except "Abysses" by Fursy Teyssier[9]

No.TitleLength
1."Écailles de lune – Part 1" ("Moon Scales – Part 1")9:52
2."Écailles de lune – Part 2" ("Moon Scales – Part 2")9:48
3."Percées de lumière" ("Breakthroughs of Light")6:37
4."Abysses" (instrumental)1:40
5."Solar Song"5:24
6."Sur l'océan couleur de fer" ("On the Iron-Colored Ocean")8:18
Total length:41:39
10th anniversary edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
7."Circe Poisoning the Sea"3:03

Release history
Country Date Label Format Catalogue # Notes
Germany March 26, 2010 Prophecy Productions CD PRO106
Limited CD PRO106LU CD in digipak
Deluxe box PRO106BOX Box set includes limited CD in digipak with flag and four postcards[10]
LP PRO106LP Reissued in several different vinyl variations since initial release. Variations include black vinyl, picture disc vinyl, and coloured vinyl including blue, clear, white, marbled, green, magenta, and orange.[11]
September 1, 2016 Cassette PRO106MC Issued in special slipcover[1]

Personnel
Alcest
  • Neige – vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards
  • Winterhalter – drums
Additional personnel
  • Fursy Teyssier – all instruments on "Abysses", cover art
  • Markus Stock – recording
  • Neb Xort – mixing, mastering
  • Martin Koller – producer

References
  1. "Prophecy US – Alcest – Écailles De Lune MC". Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  2. Schalek, Dave. "About.com Alcest Ecailles de Lune review". Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  3. Raggett, Ned. "Écailles de Lune Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  4. "Écailles de Lune Review". Metal Storm. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  5. Currin, Grayson (April 29, 2010). "Écailles de Lune Review". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  6. Begrand, Adrien (May 10, 2010). "PopMatters Alcest Ecailles de Lune review". Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  7. Stagno, Mike (March 24, 2010). "Sputnik Alcest Ecailles de Lune review". Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  8. Karim, Alee (21 May 2010). "Alcest – Écailles de lune". Invisible Oranges. Archived from the original on 2016-10-09. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  9. "Écailles de Lune Information". Amazon. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  10. "Alcest – Écailles De Lune (CD, Album, Box) at Discogs". Discogs. March 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  11. "Alcest – Écailles De Lune at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
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