"Down to the Bone" (An Acoustic Tribute to Depeche Mode)

Ici d'Ailleurs, 11 tracks, 2015 (originally: DSA, 2005), 11 tracks
LP, CD, Download

Eight years of epic creation, fourteen musicians involved, the fifth solo record from the Paris based Chauveau is logically subtitled “An Acoustic Tribute to Depeche Mode”. It’s also the one where Chauveau gives a name to his team of collaborators: Ensemble Nocturne, like Nick Cave has his Bad Seeds, or Pascal Comelade has his Bel Canto Orquestra.
Starting with the choked reading of “Stripped” and ending 45 minutes later with the shuffling instrumentation and high-end clicks of “Enjoy the Silence”. Chauveau's chamber music versions of Martin Gore’s songs is entwined throughout by Ensemble Nocturne, whose forlorn accompaniment nonetheless carbonates “Down to the Bone”'s unvarnished predilection with enough bite to elevate well beyond the soporific foothills often associated with such endeavours. “Down to the Bone” provides equal delights as both a gorgeous set of stripped down 21st Century torch songs and as a tribute to the pioneering Basildon band.

Musicians: Aurélien Besnard (clarinets), Joan Cambon (electronics), Sam Crowther (piano), Géraldine Devillières (cello), Marc Dubézy (electronics), Marie Legendre (viola), Philippe Maynard (acoustic guitar), Sébastien Roux (electronics, acoustic guitar), JB Salles (double bass), Anthony Taillard (prepared guitar), Olivier Cavaillé, Olivier Lageyre, Luc Rambo and Rasim Biyikli (arrangements), Sylvain Chauveau (vocals, prepared guitar)

Words and music by Martin L. Gore
Recorded and mixed by Marc Dubézy at CDM studio, Toulouse, artistic direction by Joan Cambon
Produced by Marc Dubézy, Sylvain Chauveau, and Le Soleil et l’Acier
Arranged by Sylvain Chauveau and Ensemble Nocturne, except: "Freelove" was arranged by Sébastien Roux (after a piano part by Luc Rambo), "Blasphemous Rumours" arranged by Luc Rambo, and “Death’s Door” rebuilt after an improvisation by Philippe Maynard
Mastering by Christoph Amann at Amann studios, Vienna

Boomkat.com / UK / 2005

“Yes please!"

Arnaud Viviant / Les Inrockuptibles / France / 2005

“The Unplugged that Depeche Mode will never record."

Go Mag / Spain / 2005

“This record is maybe the best tribute ever to the Basildon boys.”

Ludovic Perrin / Libération / France / 2005

“Probably his best record."

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