Mylene Farmer - Cendres de Lune

French Kate Bush? oui!

Mylene Farmer's debut album is, indeed, a very dark one. Pop enough to be listed in the category, yet, too daring, experimental and dark to be JUST Pop.
The good thing with this album is that I bought a copy on one of my trips in Paris, 5 years ago. Yet, everytime I listen to it it feels like the first one. Every song on this one has something creepy and out-of-this-world, an obscure sense of threat going on in the background. Even, the catchy up-tempo single leader 'Libertine'has a very ambiguous rennaisance melancholy to it.
One thing that might discourage many, is that this album's tracklist seems like being a collage of mylene's 84-86 singles, all pilled up in album. Maman a tort, Libertine, and Plus Grandir had been singles long before the album was released. However!, Cendres de Lunes, DOES sound conherent. That is mainly because the songs (singles) had been given different interpretations in order to find their way into this elusive music project. Even the very tongue-to-the-cheek Maman as Tort, is being given a scaringly creepy mix.
Definetely a worth buy album, and even the songs that are not to die for as the rest, seem indispensable.

PS: Once you get to listen to it, pls remember this: Yes, Vieux Bouc is one of the creepiest songs ever written in pop music, but the ending od f it is one of the best parts that I ever heard in an album. Honestly.
January 17, 2006

awesome

i just have to start off saying i love mylene. born and raised in belgium, i grew up to her music and i always think of her when i think of my childhood, even though when i was young i had no idea what the subject matter of her songs were... i sure did find out though. :) however, she is great. if you know about how she grew up, you'd understand why the themes of her songs are so dark and somewhat depressing, but she also puts a twist of fun into it. my favorites are "au bout de la nuit", "tristana", and "we'll never die". she always has awesome videos to her songs too, so if you are a fan of hers you should be sure to check these out. she is different and does what she wants, that being one of the reasons for the critics she has acquired. oh well, so long as they talk about you mylene :)
vive la musique!! October 5, 2003

The Key to the Particular Universe of Mylène Farmer

"Cendres de Lune" was released in 1986 and is the first album of Mylène. It is essential to better understand the particular universe created by Mylène and her companion Laurent Boutonnat. For the first time one can encounter the topics of preference of Mylène and Laurent: death, sex, black romanticism, confusion, suicide and (anti)religion. The music itself is for the most part rather merry and when once asked about this, Mylène replied: "Because they [the songs] are cynical; cynicism saves everything!".

"Vieux Bouc" (Old Goat) is one of the most interesting songs on the album. The lyrics (which I have translated from French to English - like everywhere else in my review) takes the form of a dialogue with a woman and the devil, "Vieux Bouc" ("Oh, Old Goat, are you tender? Do you like my morning bells? This hymen will be my gift, now hell is in my blood") and has references to Sartre and "The Master and Margarita" by Bulgakov. The album also contains Mylène's breakthrough song, the musicially not-so-impressive light dance pop song "Libertine" with its fin-du-siècle references and poetic lyrics between innocence and perversion; "Au Bout de la Nuit" dealing with love and suicide; the excellent and sad "Tristana" ("With a blow of her heart she embraces a passing shadow, nothing will erace the cowardly traces of the dripping blood from the dismembered bodies") ; "Chloé", a morbid little ditty binding childhood with death. Its music is reminiscent of Danny Elfman with Mylène singing naively along like a child - creating a very interesting contrast (the song is - according to Mylène herself - about a child telling its story of how it killed its sister or friend); "Maman a Tort", which was the first single of Mylène, with its counting rhyme ("1. Mum is wrong, 2. Love is beautiful, 3. The nurse cries, 4. I love her"); "We'll Never Die", musically a bit gothic sounding with dark lyrics ("Your blood will wash our faces, the vultures will kiss you"); "Greta", a tribute to Greta Garbo; "Plus Grandir" dealing with ageing and rape. The album finishes with the instrumental "Cendres de Lune", musically in horror movie style with Mylène merrily humming on top.

Impossible also to forget mentioning her video clips that accompany this period. The clips are rather like small movies in cinematic style. Directed by extremely talented Laurent Boutonnat, those small masterpieces have been integral in forging the MF universe. "Plus Grandir" (capturing the phantasms of Mylène's childhood) features Mylène dismembering and drowning her doll, being raped by a diabolic man, chased by dwarf nuns and turning old. Libertine and its 11 min masterpiece video clip, Barry Lindon style, cinematic; Tristana with yet another highly impressive and romantic video clip, also cinematic, drawing from Snow White, Tarkovsky etc.; with elements such as love, death, snow, blood, wolves.

Even though some of the songs may sound a bit dated, I highly recommend this very rich and unusual album - even (or perhaps rather more so) if you are a sophisticated listener and shun the mainstream (like myself!). Mylène Farmer is a completely unique artist; listening to one of her albums is like reading a book and she constantly makes you discover new things. August 31, 2001

Fabulous!!!!

Mylene Farmer sure is a great singer. I just love every song that she sings, her voice is attractive. I listen to this album all day everyday and still can't get bored of it. "Cendres De Lune" is a great album. April 3, 2001

A supplement to my last review

Mylene's debut album reflects an era where young female singers used to team up with talented songwriters/producers. With the exception of the vocal performance and some lyrics, Mylene didn't contribute much to this album, but it is an impressive debut. There could be some parallels to Madonna, but the music of "Cendres" sounds unlike any mainstream pop album of the mid-'80s. With stripped-down, metallic rhythms and austere melodies, it's rather similar to industrial bands like D.A.F., Propaganda, or Front 242, if also not as aggressive. As debut albums go, there's a couple of uninspired and dull tracks here, with baby-doll vocals by Mylene and a flat-sounding musical background. On the other hand, this CD contains some of Mylene's best songs, providing a sinister, compelling dance pop that sounds timeless. "Libertine", "Tristana", and "We'll never die" are among the highlights. All in all, this album is a must-have for completists, however, the newly interested should start with "Dance Remixes". May 9, 2000

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