LE TRISTE SIRE (FRANCE)
EFFUSIONS...
DYSPHORIE RECORDS

Reviewed by Felix on February 1, 2004.
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Interviews with Le Triste Sire:

Neo-classical and (dark) ambient are always genres people hate deeply or love intensely. Dark ambient is one of the most depressing musical styles ever to flow out of human hands and minds. The same goes for neo-classical music, which is actually a sub genre of what is called dark ambient. The music is able to point out the true pointlessness and sadness in things that we are quite used to in life, things that doesn't bother most people. A deep and intense expression of feelings that are mostly hid by the majority of the people. Only few bands/artists are active in this scene and that makes it even more attractive. Le Triste Sire is such an act from France, guided by one person, Tristan, and produces a brilliant mixture between dark ambient and neo-classical music.

In only eleven songs we get to hear what Tristan wants to share with us through his music. Music which is dominated (like most dark ambient) by the keyboards and string arrangements (which are actually keyboards as well but sounds quite natural in all aspects). The overall moody and depressive atmosphere is set by those background keyboards and string arrangements. Additional melodies are placed with another thicker layer of keyboards (even some bass lines) and some simple piano tunes. Something, which could be labelled as percussion - in the form of something that sounds familiar with gongs and some rather strange beats and simple drum rhythms - has been woven into the music as well. Every now and then a girl who carries the name of Claire alternates the music with spoken word passages. This all makes it in neo-classical themes quite varied and unusual as well. Not quite standard and therefore Le Triste Sire is one of the most interesting and best inspired acts ever to embark from these genres. This is an album that should be tried by fans of this kind of music and people who are fond of inspiring and dark music in general.

Hey Tristan! How are you?
Hi Felix, glad to chat a bit with you!

I recently reviewed your latest album "Effusions...", I liked it. How were the other reactions so far from the press and fans?
For the moment and since the beginning of  Le Triste Sire, I can consider myself happy, I had very nice reviews and excellent feedbacks from the people.

Could you introduce Le Triste Sire a little for the ones who haven't heard about you before. 
Le Triste Sire is my solo project, essentially instrumental; the  soundtrack of my inner life... It began in 2000 with a 7 tracks demo then a first album "Exorde" in 2001 edited by World Serpent and "Effusions..." with Dysphorie Records end 2003.

I haven't heard your previous album, in what aspect is this album different from its predecessor?
Actually, the soul remains the same but I think this album reveals more maturity and experience than the first one. It is maybe a bit less minimalist too since I had more possibilites and means.

"Effusions..." sounds very inspiring. Where do you get your influences?
My influences come from the experiences I live, the observation of human relations, the music I listen to, some books and movies too make me feel like expressing things.

What are your favourite neo-classical or (dark) ambient releases? And which albums are your favourites of any genre?
Oddly I don' t listen to many neo-classical or dark ambient bands, I am more fond of soudtrack composers as Hans Zimmer, Clint Mansell, Christopher Young, Patrick Doyle and above all Craig Armstrong. I love his whole work. In different genres but not so far I like very much Perry Blake, Archive, Bel Canto, Halou, Ilya...

There is just one song on the album that has got some real lyrics. What is that poem about?
It' s a moment of life, a blend of real experiences and dreamt situations...

Le Triste Sire is a one-man band/project, but there is one other girl involved, Claire, who is this and what made you choose for her to put her vocals on your last album?
Claire is a friend of mine and I appreciate a lot her tone of voice, very clear, innocent. She looks a young, well-behaved girl...

How does a writing process evolve? Do you have a special way of writing songs and music?
No, there are no rules to me and it' s very hard to explain cause I mainly work by instinct. I sometimes have slight auditory hallucinations too, that helps me well... ;)

"Effusions..." is released through Dysphorie Records, I personally never heard about this label before. And according from your catalogue-number the label released just two CDs before "Effusions...". How did you get in contact with them and are you satisfied so far?
Normal, it is a very young french label. At the start Dysphorie (Yann and Bruce ) was and is still the bigger undeground, dark, metal, and gothic records shop in Paris maybe in France. They launched into production a couple of years ago, but I know them for a long time and I am very glad to work with them.

The neo-classical / dark ambient scene is very small, almost an elite thing. How do you look upon this little community that is involved in your kind of music? Do you have a lot of contacts around the world?
To be frank and as I said previously I don' t listen to enough bands from this scene to have an enlightened opinion about the situation and the state of this community, but I would say that this kind of music is very anti-commercial, maybe the reason why it is so small... Indeed it happens that I receive mails from countries I didn' t expect.

The internet didn't seem to have much information on Le Triste Sire. I didn't find a homepage as well, don't you think internet is important for a band or any other musical act? 
Yes you are completely right, I am very slow but I am going to make up for this late, I am thinking about something at this time. Actually, as you'll have noticed I am very bad at marketing... ;)

These were my questions. Thanks for the interview, and as usual, if you have anything to say, go ahead!
Thanks to you Felix for this interview and the quality of your questions, please be indulgent with my mistakes in english.  See you soon I hope!

Last updated on February 4, 2004

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