ALCEST
celebrate 10th anniversary of “Écailles de Lune”
with lavish editions
In close cooperation, ALCEST and Prophecy Productions are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the French post-black metal pioneers’ modern classic “Écailles de Lune” with a special reissue in spectacular new editions, which are to be released on December 18th.
The strictly limited “Sand Edition” (100 copies) box set includes among many other collector’s items, a crystal clear hand-crafted vinyl that contains real sand from the beach that Neige used to frequent while writing these songs! Less flamboyantly luxurious but nonetheless beautiful comes the “Ocean Edition” with a sea-blue-black vinyl. Both editions include the hardcover CD book, which is also available separately and offers a preface by Neige, liner notes, artwork, and more. In addition to these editions, there will be more Gatefold vinyl in different colours.
Please note that review copies of the box editions will not be provided.
Tracklist
1. Écailles de Lune, Part I
2. Écailles de Lune, Part II
3. Percées de Lumière
4. Abysses
5. Solar Song
6. Sur l’océan couleur de fer
7. Circe Poisoning the Sea (bonus track)
ALCEST took an audible step towards their black metal roots with their sophomore full-length “Écailles de Lune” (“Moon Scales”) without losing any of the trademarks that had evolved on their debut album “Souvenirs d’un Autre Monde”. The French post-black metal pioneers created a sound of lucent, dreamlike quality and otherworldly beauty that has equally defined them and been refined by them ever since.
In musical terms, ALCEST amalgamate calm, semi-acoustic passages, repetitive, hypnotic patterns, and captivating melodies with outbursts of harsh riffing and aggressive drumming. The same contrasting and complementing effect is used by band founder and guitarist Neige for his vocals. Clean singing that is morphing back and forth between a warm and darker tone and a gentle higher pitch occasionally gets swept aside by despairing shrieks and furious black voices – only to flowingly return like an unstoppable tide.
“For this album, I was especially inspired by the sea, the energy, and the exaltation that you can feel when you sit in front of the ocean at night,” Neige explained about “Écailles de Lune”. “The sea appears terribly fascinating, full of secrets, beautiful and frightening at the same time.”
ALCEST‘s music has received many labels over the years including post-black metal, post-rock, shoegaze, and blackgaze to name some of the more commonly found terms. Yet whatever the band originally from Avignon and now based with Neige in Paris is called, their sound has always remained unique. Another typical element of their albums is a concept or theme that runs through the songs. On “Écailles de Lune”, it is a tale of transformation. “This album’s story is not a metaphor for death as it might appear to be”, says Neige. “To me, it is about a man who decides to literally leave one world for another. It can rather be seen as a passage to another reality or another state of existence.”
For those, who want to follow in those footsteps and journey to another place, ALCEST offer a key. Just close your eyes and listen to “Écailles de Lune” and you will be taken far away to a world of musical wonders and haunting beauty – but beware, even roses of the otherworld have thorns.
The reissue of “Écailles de Lune” will be available in the following formats:
“Sand Edition” box set (ltd. 100 copies) includes a Gatefold LP with sand-filled crystal clear vinyl, hardcover CD book, back patch with cover art, wall-flag with original artwork, and art print with cover artwork.
“Ocean Edition” box set (ltd. 500 copies) contains Gatefold LP with blue-black marbled 180g vinyl, hardcover CD book, back patch with cover art, and art print with cover artwork.
