Absinthe (Marc Almond album)

Absinthe, also known as Absinthe – The French Album, is the eighth studio album by the British singer/songwriter Marc Almond. It was released by Some Bizzare in October 1993.

Absinthe
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 1993
Recorded1986 and 1990
StudioMilo Studios, London
GenreArt pop
Length43:49
LabelSome Bizzare
ProducerCharles Gray, Marc Almond, Martin Watkins
Marc Almond chronology
Tenement Symphony
(1991)
Absinthe
(1993)
Fantastic Star
(1995)

Background

According to the writer and poet Jeremy Reed in his biography of Almond, The Last Star, "Almond largely at his own expense worked on the songs between 1986 and 1989 at Milo Studios".[1]

The album is considered the companion piece to Jacques and in a similar vein contains cover versions of French songs that have been had their lyrics translated into English by Paul Buck.[2] The album contains liner notes by Buck explaining the origins of the songs and the reasons for their inclusion.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[4]
NME7/10[5]

Absinthe received generally favourable reviews from critics. Ned Raggett states in his AllMusic review that Absinthe is "In the end, more of a curiosity than Jacques, but an enjoyable one."[3]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Original artistLength
1."Undress Me (Déshabillez-moi)"Robert Nyel, Gaby Velor, Paul BuckJuliette Gréco3:30
2."Abel And Cain (Abel et Cain)"Charles Baudelaire, Léo Ferré, BuckCharles Baudelaire (from a poem)2:29
3."Lost Paradise (Le Paradis perdu)"Nyel, Georges Garvarentz, BuckLucienne Delyle3:25
4."Secret Child (L'Enfant secret)"Juliette Gréco, Gérard Jouannest, BuckJuliette Gréco5:16
5."Rue des Blancs-Manteaux"Jean-Paul Sartre, Joseph Kosma, BuckJuliette Gréco1:29
6."The Slave (L'Esclave)"Serge Lama, Yves GilbertSerge Lama3:34
7."Remorse Of The Dead (Remords posthume)"Baudelaire, Ferré, BuckCharles Baudelaire (from a poem)1:55
8."Incestuous Love (Amours incestueuses)"Monique Andrée Serf, BuckBarbara6:17
9."A Man (Un homme)"Nyel, Garvarentz, BuckRobert Nyel2:33
10."My Little Lovers (Mes petites amoureuses)"Arthur Rimbaud, Billy McGee, BuckArthur Rimbaud (From a poem)7:10
11."In Your Bed (Dans ton lit)"Guy BontempelliJuliette Gréco2:55
12."Yesterday When I Was Young (Hier encore)"Charles Aznavour, Herbert KetzmerCharles Aznavour3:16

Personnel

  • Martin Watkins – Piano
  • Annie Hogan – Piano
  • Martin McCarrickCello, Accordion and Piano
  • Steven Humphreys – Drums and Percussion
  • Audrey Riley – Cello
  • Bill McGee – Double Bass
  • Enrico Tomasso – Trumpet
  • Nigel Thomas – Trombone
  • John de Aquiar – Guitar and programming
  • Charles Gray – Guitar
  • Jacquezs Quezin – Violin
  • Gini Ball – Violin
  • Hirt Aust – Drums
  • Michel Grunberger – Brass
  • Joel Mahaut – Brass
  • Guy Carpentier – Accordion
  • Charles Gray – Production
  • Martin Watkins – Mixing
  • Paul Buck – all translations
  • Marc Almond – Production and arrangements
  • Barnard Natier – Engineering

References

  1. Reed, Jeremy (1995). Marc Almond - The Last Star. Creation Books. p. 111. ISBN 978-1840680065.
  2. "Prolific career of singer Almond". BBC. 18 October 2004. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  3. Raggett, Ned. "Absinthe - The French Album at Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  4. Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857125958. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  5. Dalton, Stephen (27 November 1993). "Long Play". New Musical Express. p. 33.
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