Mon ami mon frère – 2020
Chiaroscuro – 2020 – on all digital platforms
Mon ami mon frère (My friend my brother*)
a modest proposal in 2020
Nine years after their last concert in Athens in 2011, Clair Obscur reappeared abruptly in 2020, on the symbolic day of Mardi Gras (April's Fool) when the sovereign was mocked, for a discographic proposal qualified as an object of struggle. A laconic, ironic and heady hymn in a France with blurred communication and a more deleterious atmosphere every day. On February 25, the single Mon ami mon frère and its B side Ami ami were out on all digital platforms and free to download on Bandcamp.
*All names in this song were ministers of the current French government
Music & lyrics, Christophe Demarthe
Arrangement, The Option
Adapted from the album We Gave a Party for the Gods and the Gods All Came, Optical Sound, 2009
Vocals & Programming, Christophe Demarthe
Backing Vocals & Additional Synthesizers, The Option
FX Guitars, Nicolas Demarthe
Lead vocals, guitars, analog synthesizers recorded by Bruno Dupont at Studio du Bras d’Or
Mon ami mon frère, mixed by Christophe Grémiot
Ami ami, mixed by Christophe Demarthe and The Option
Mastering by The Option
Graphic Design by BAM
Many Thanks to The Option, Bruno Dupont, Christophe Grémiot, P. Nicolas Ledoux
Chiaroscuro 2020 02
On all digital platforms. FREE download on Bandcamp
We Gave Our Music to the Gods and the Gods Remixed It – 2011
Optical Sound – 2011
16 ARTISTS GIVE THEIR VISIONS of Clair Obscur's We Gave a Party for the Gods and the Gods All Came
In Memory of Jean Couturier
The idea was - rather than to propose friend musicians to do the standard exercise of the cover or the remix - to propose this exercise to artists who are not classified as musicians or who develop their practice at crossroads. Why ? Because Clair Obscur have always developed their own music with a real curiosity for other arts. And because the friend musicians who make us the honour to take part in this project - apart from having the good taste to appreciate Clair Obscur 😉 - all have strong interests for the sonic and musical phenomenon. In brief, by inviting artists who are not labelised as musicians to give their visions of our latest album, We Gave A Party For The Gods And The Gods All Came, we are just placing things in the inverse direction.
1, 8, 13, 16 Music & lyrics Thierry Damerval,
Christophe & Nicolas Demarthe
2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 Music & lyrics
Christophe Demarthe
6 Music & lyrics Poison Girls
15 Music & lyrics Joy Division
Original material recorded by Bruno Dupont -
Studio du Bras d’Or, Boulogne sur Mer
Mastering Norscq
Design Pascal Béjean & Nicolas Ledoux (PBNL)
Many thanks to the artists involved in this project
and to all the people who helped us.
Optical Sound – OS.052 – 2011 https://optical-sound.com/wp/produit/clair-obscur-we-gave-our-music-to-the-gods-and-the-gods-remixed-it/
We Gave a Party for the Gods and the Gods All Came – 2009
Optical Sound — 2009
We Gave a Party for the Gods and the Gods All Came was published in 2009 by Optical Sound.
The title is a reference to John Giorno’s print.
1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 music & lyrics, Christophe Demarthe
8, 9 music & lyrics, Thierry Damerval,
Christophe Demarthe, Nicolas Demarthe
4 music & lyrics, Poison Girls
10 music & lyrics, Joy Division
Christophe Demarthe, vocals, programming, keyboards
Nicolas Demarthe, guitars, bass guitar, keyboards
Bruno Dupont, drums, keyboards
Sabine Martel, backing vocals (It’ll Be Allright)
Aline Montfort, flute (Blume)
Recorded and mixed by Bruno Dupont at Studio
du Bras d’Or (Boulogne-sur-Mer) in August-October 2008
4, 8 Voice recorded by Mathieu Farnarier
Mastering, Norscq
Design, Pascal Béjean and Nicolas Ledoux
B/W photography, Pascal Béjean
Color photography, Florence Lebert
Many thanks to Sandy Amerio, Pascal Béjean,
Pierre Beloüin, Bruno Dupont, Mathieu
Farnarier, Guillaume Gesquière, John Giorno,
Lionel Grosheny, Jean-Dominique Grossard,
Florence Lebert, P. Nicolas Ledoux, Alex Louis,
Sabine Martel, Aline Montfort, Norscq,
Joachim & Nadine Vorwerk.
Avec le concours du Conseil Régional de Picardie,
du Conseil Général de l’Oise et de la DRAC Alsace.
Optical Sound — OS.050 — 2009
Live at Festival des Musiques Mutantes 1986 – 2008
Infrastition – 2008
Clair Obscur Live at Festival des Musiques Mutantes 1986 was first published by Infrastition in 2008.
These nine tracks* were recorded live at TLP Déjazet in Paris in 1986.
Sound engineer, Olivier Tirmarche
Mastering, Markus Aschenbrenner
Cover photo, Beauzée-Lhuyssen
Design, Pascal Béjean & Nicolas Ledoux
Many thanks to Thierry De Lavau, P. Nicolas Ledoux, Alex Louis
* These songs were re-recorded in studio in 1987 and gave birth to the album In Out (V.i.S.A. 1988).
C.O.I.T. a Collection Of Isolated Tracks 1981-1988 – 2007
Vinyl On Demand – 2007
BUY the Wood Box CD + 7" – reissue 2012
C.O.I.T. a Collection Of Isolated Tracks 1981-1988 was published in 2007 by Vinyl On Demand (Germany) as a double vinyl LP.
It collects 28 tracks from the period 1981-1988 which appeared on singles or on compilations, or were never released before (in some cases the sound quality is rather poor, but these titles were chosen to give a more complete survey of that period).
C.O.I.T. exists in two versions. A double vinyl LP limited to 200 copies (VOD 41). And a Box Set limited to 400 copies (VOD 41B) which contains the regular double LP VOD 41, an additional 7" single with two bonus tracks (VOD 41.S), three inserts, a 30x30cm b/w art print on heavy paper, an exclusive white on black t-shirt. Among the Box Set edition there is a special red-printed silkscreened friends edition limited to 50 copies.
An initial version of A Collection Of Isolated Tracks 1982-1988 was published in 1995 by Apocalyptic Vision (Germany) as a CD. It contained 15 tracks plus a booklet with photos and texts about Clair Obscur's past performances.
All tracks lyrics and music, Thierry Damerval, Christophe Demarthe, Nicolas Demarthe
Vocals, Christophe Demarthe
Guitar, Keyboards, Nicolas Demarthe
Bass, Keyboards, Voice, Thierry Damerval
Drums, Jean-Yves Liot
Re-mastering, Markus Aschenbrenner
Design, Pascal Béjean & Nicolas Ledoux (ABM Studio)
Photo, Beauzée-Lhuyssen
Many thanks to Frank Maier (Vinyl On Demand), Pascal Béjean, Nicolas Ledoux, Jean-Marc Boucher (Taalem), Gerome Nox, All the Madmen, Cathexis Recordings, V.i.S.A.
C.O.I.T. was re-issued in 2012 by Vinyl On Demand as a Wood Box CD-Edition. Besides 6 Offset printed Postcards inside the black varnished wooden-box-Set lmtd.to 300 copies it furthermore contained a 7“inch with the 8 tracks from the legendary La Cassette Noire-Tape. These titles were chosen to give a more complete survey of that period and have been remastered once more with best possible equipment as some of the recordings might still sound quiet rough and raw. It also contained two bonus tracks which were only part of the VOD-Subscriber-Box-Set; a Remix by G-Nox on CD1 and a 1983 live recording at Pali Kao on CD2.
Nulle aide – 1999
Trinity Records – 1999
Nulle aide was published on CD in 1999 by Trinity Records. Its thirteen tracks were composed under the name CO2.
All songs by Christophe Demarthe except
Chic cher music by C. Demarthe and Xavier Bussy,
Barake lyrics by Sandrine Demarthe and C. Demarthe,
Pivoine text by Anne-Marie Koenig.
Djamel-Edine Alouache, bass guitar, bassline, vocals
Xavier Bussy, clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone
Philippe Carrez, analog synthesizers
Christophe Demarthe, vocals, programming
Nicolas Demarthe, electric & acoustic guitars, épinette des Vosges
Sandrine Demarthe, vocals
Nicolas Gorge, drums, percussions
Aline Montfort, flutes, vocals
Recorded and mixed by Bruno Dupont at Studio du Bras d'Or, Boulogne sur Mer, between December 1997 and March 1998.
Produced by Clair Obscur and Bruno Dupont.
Design by Clair Obscur.
Many thanks to Laurence & Bruno Dupont, Christophe Hémery, Damien Chalaud and Alex Storm.
This album was recorded with the help of the Conseil Régional de Picardie and the Conseil Général de l'Oise.
Antigone – 1996
Apocalyptic Vision – 1996
BUY the CD – reissue 2008
BUY the Cassette – reissue 2019
Antigone was originally published on CD by Apocalyptic Vision (Germany) in 1996.
1-17 written by Christophe Demarthe for a drama production of Sophocles’ Antigone by Compagnie Tour de Babel in 1989 in Paris.
18 written by Christophe Demarthe
19-20 written by Nicolas Demarthe
21-30 written by Christophe Demarthe for Les aventures mythologiques de Dédale, a radio serial written by Denis Boissier, directed by Jean Couturier, broadcast on France Culture in 1994.
Antigone was recorded and mixed by Bruno Dupont at Studio du Bras d’Or (Boulogne-sur-Mer), except Hémon II recorded live by Jean Couturier at Hans Müller’s.
Violin / Marie-Catherine Hudry, Christophe Pons, Christelle Serre
Viola / Geneviève Duchet, Joël Pagès
Cello / Hélène Audinat, Marie-Dominique Dazin
Double Bass / Jean-Marc Contios
Bass Guitar / Gamaldine Alouache
Guitars, Synthesizers / Nicolas Demarthe
Saz / Bruno Dupont
Flute / Guillaume Damerval, Olivier Husseney
Clarinets, Soprano Saxophone / Xaviet Bussy
Baritone Saxophone / Didier Bachaumard
Trumpet / Emmanuel Bonneau
Piano, Organ, Flute / Aline Montfort
Percussions / Nicolas Gorge, Arach Khalatbary
Vocals, Synthesizers / Christophe Demarthe
Cover Photo / Beauzée-Lhuyssen
Graphic Design / Pascal Béjean & Nicolas Ledoux
Many thanks to P. Nicolas Ledoux & Alex Louis
Antigone was re-issued on CD by Infrastition in 2008.
http://www.infrastition.com/en/produit/clair-obscur-antigone/
Antigone was re-issued on Cassette by Nochnye Travy (Russia) in 2019 as the first official cassette edition of Antigone/ Daedalus, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the premiere of the performance on the stage of a Paris theatre. The cassette includes a six-panel booklet with information, photos and exclusive interview with Christophe Demarthe, a postcard and a sticker. Limited to 80 hand-numbered copies.
nochnyetravy.bandcamp.com/album/--2
Rock – 1994
Shiva/Apocalyptic Vision & Edouard Sicsic – 1994
BUY the CD – reissue 2011
Rock was originally published on CD by Shiva/Apocalyptic Vision (Germany) and Edouard Sicsic in 1994. The recording of the album started in June 1990 but was halted due to financial reasons. As a consequence the mixing could only be finished in December 1993.
Vocals, Christophe Demarthe
Backing Vocals, Philippe Carrez, Christophe Demarthe, Nicolas Demarthe, Mithra Khalatbary, Laetitia Lawson, Benoît Loridan, Aline Montfort, Camille Ulrych
Violin, Christelle Serre
Viola, Joël Pagès
Cello, Hélène Audinat
Flute, Guillaume Damerval, Aline Montfort
Clarinets, Saxophones, Xavier Bussy, Philippe Motte
Trumpet, Patrick Gamblin
French Horn, Emmanuel Padieu
Bombarde, Dominique Douay
Guitars, Nicolas Demarthe, Michael Lapie, Laurent Miqueu
Bass Guitar, Gamaldine Alouache, Thierry Damerval
Piano, Fabrice Beaudoin, Pierre Jacquot
Computer Programming, Philippe Carrez
Drums, Nicolas Gorge
Percussions, Catherine Blot, Bruno Dupont, Nicolas Gorge, Michael Lapie, Francesco Mantione
Music and lyrics, Christophe & Nicolas Demarthe (except 2 adapted from Cry No More by Poison Girls, and 9 music Thierry Damerval, C. & N. Demarthe)
8, 13, 14, composed for a drama production of Sophocles' Antigone
Recording, Pierre Jacquot at Studio Harry Son, Pantin (except 1 by J. Williams & P. Jacquot)
Mixing, Bruno Dupont at Studio Harry Son, Pantin (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14)
Mixing, Pierre Jacquot at Studio Harry Son, Pantin (1, 2, 3, 9, 11)
Assistant engineers, Lionel Bréart Thibaut, Xavier Delbos
Graphic Design, Pascal Béjean & Nicolas Ledoux (ABM Studio)
Many thanks to Pascal Béjean & Nicolas Ledoux, Marc Camus & Thierry Noyer (ETC), Damien Chalaud, Antoine Crespin (Futur Acoustic), Thierry De Lavau (V.i.S.A.), Bruno Dupont, Jean-Claude Favot (Kit Communications), Jacky Hamel, Maryline Le Bihan, Alex Louis (Infrastition), Philippe Louis, Jacques Mathys, Bernard Nicolino (for the original Cover Design), Jean-Pierre Prévost, Simone & Jean-Claude, Edith & Serge, Edouard Sicsic, Alex Storm (Apocalyptic Vision), Rainer Storm, Catherine Vorwerk, Harry & Johnny Williams (Studio Harry Son), and all those who helped us to make this record exist.
Rock was re-issued on CD by Infrastition in 2011.
Sans titre, 1992
V.i.S.A. – 1992
BUY the CD – reissue 2011
Sans titre, 1992 was originally published on CD by V.i.S.A. (France). Although it was released before the album Rock, it chronologically came after this one which started being recorded in 1990 but was halted until 1994.
Bass Guitar, Gamaldine Alouache
Cello, Hélène Audinat
Clarinet & Saxophones, Xavier Bussy
Keyboards & Computer, Philippe Carrez
Vocals, Christophe Demarthe
Guitars & Vocals, Nicolas Demarthe
Drums & Percussions, Nicolas Gorge
Flute & Backing Vocals, Aline Montfort
Music and lyrics, Christophe & Nicolas Demarthe, except if specified.
2, 8, 10, composed for a drama production of Sophocles' Antigone.
4, dialogue from Jean-Luc Godard's Masculin Féminin (1966),
music Damerval, Demarthe, Jouannic.
5, dedicated to Irène & Jean.
6, text from Heinrich Heine's Die Lorelei.
9, text from Shakespeare's Timon of Athens (IV,i).
It must be understood that we are not placing ourselves in the service of the work but place it in ours.
Recording & Mixing, Bruno Dupont at Studio du Bras d'Or,
Boulogne sur Mer (February 24 - March 13 1992)
Graphic Design, Pascal Béjean & Nicolas Ledoux (ABM Studio)
Many thanks to Pascal Béjean & Nicolas Ledoux, Franck Brero & the CFA staff, Antoine Crespin (Futur Acoustic), Thierry De Lavau (V.i.S.A.), Jacky Hamel, Alex Louis (Infrastition), Jean Piret, Edouard Sicsic, Alex Storm (Apocalyptic Vision), and most particularly Bruno Dupont & Laurence Graves (Studio du Bras d'Or).
This album was recorded with the help of the cities of Villers Saint Paul, Montataire, Creil and the DRAC de Picardie.
Sans titre, 1992 was re-issued by Apocalyptic Vision (Germany) in 1997 and by Infrastition (France) in 2011.
http://www.infrastition.com/en/produit/clair-obscur-sans-titre-1992/
In Out – 1988
V.i.S.A. – 1988
In Out was first published in 1988 by V.i.S.A. (France) as a vinyl LP distributed by New Rose.
It contains eight tracks which were composed for a performance at the first Festival des Musiques Mutantes at T.L.P. Déjazet, Paris on the 25th of October 1986.
These tracks were then performed in the Studio 105 de Radio France for the programme Clair de Nuit on France Culture on the 29th of March 1987. They were recorded by Philippe Bouillette and Alain Joubert on two tracks stereo-digital between 9 and 12 a.m.
All tracks lyrics and music, Thierry Damerval, Christophe Demarthe, Nicolas Demarthe (except Auld Lang Syne, lyrics Robert Burns, Petite fable, text Franz Kafka).
Arrangements, Guillaume Damerval
Vocals, Christophe Demarthe
Additional vocals, Benoît Loridan, Clair Obscur
Violins, Anne-Mireille Szbrowsky, Marie Urbieta
Cellos, Hélène Audinat, Lucile Fauquet
Flutes, Guillaume Damerval, Catherine Meunier
Trumpet, Simon Gillet
Guitars, Nicolas Demarthe
Bass guitar, Keyboards, Thierry Damerval
Drums, Timpani, Percussions, Patrick Jouannic
Djembes, Jean-Michel Darrou
Original cover design, Bernard Nicolino
Photography, Philippe Touzard
Many thanks to Irène Omélianenko & Jean Couturier, Philippe Bouillette & Alain Joubert, Antoine Crespin, Damien Chalaud, Nicolino family, Philippe & Marie, T.L.P. Déjazet, V.i.S.A.
Re-issues
- Apocalyptic vision (Germany) CD 1993
- Infrastition (France) CD 2004
Play. – 1988
Cathexis Recordings – 1988
Play. was originally published in 1988 by Cathexis Recordings (UK) as a vinyl LP distributed by Fast Forward and The Cartel. It compiled La cassette noire and Dansez.
1-9 – La Cassette noire, recorded at home in 1982 (except K.G. and Revol Dub recorded and mixed by Philippe David at Studio Séquence, Paris).
10-13 – Dansez, recorded and mixed by Pat Bouchard and Clair Obscur at SDH Studio, Rouen in 1984.
All tracks lyrics and music, Thierry Damerval, Christophe Demarthe, Nicolas Demarthe
Vocals, Christophe Demarthe
Guitar, Keyboards, Nicolas Demarthe
Bass, Keyboards, Voice, Thierry Damerval
Drums, Jean-Yves Liot
Percussions, Jacky Michel
Piano, Pat Bouchard
The original edition of Play. offered a choice of four different covers designed by Robet H. King.
Paintings, Benoît Girodon
Re-issues
- Orphanage (USA) Cassette comes in a printed jute bag with one of the four artworks from the original Play. LP. Cassette 1990
- Apocalyptic Vision (Germany) / V.i.S.A. (France) CD 1994
- Infrastition (France) CD 2004
Smurf in the Gulag – 1986
Cathexis Recordings – 1986
12" single published by Cathexis Recordings (UK) in 1986, distributed by The Cartel.
A Side – Smurf In The Gulag, recorded by Alain Painchaud and Clair Obscur at Studio A, Rennes. Mixed at F2, London.
B Side – Le Cheminement du Pelerin, La Ballade des gens Heureux, recorded live by Olivier Tirmarche at La Grange A Musique, Creil on 24th May 1986 (not included here).
All tracks lyrics and music, Thierry Damerval, Christophe Demarthe, Nicolas Demarthe
Vocals, Christophe Demarthe
Guitar, Keyboards, Nicolas Demarthe
Bass, Keyboards, Voice, Thierry Damerval
Drums, Jean-Yves Liot
Re-mastering, Markus Aschenbrenner
Cover design & painting, Philippe Touzard
Drawing, Philippe Sury
Many thanks to Leslie & Antoine Crespin, Gérard, Centre Georges Brassens, Robert King.
The Pilgrim's Progress – 1985
All The Madmen – 1985
The Pilgrim's Progress was originally published in 1986 by
All The Madmen (UK) as a vinyl LP distributed by Rough Trade/Cartel.
It contains nine tracks recorded live at Théâtre du Forum des Halles, Paris in 1984.
All tracks, lyrics & music, Thierry Damerval, Christophe Demarthe, Nicolas Demarthe
Vocals, Christophe Demarthe
Guitars, Keyboards, Nicolas Demarthe
Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Voice, Thierry Damerval
Drums, Jean-Yves Liot
Sound engineer, Pat Bouchard
Re-mastering, Markus Aschenbrenner
Graphic design & photography, Philippe Touzard
Many thanks to Cecille Bobo, Robert K., Rob Cod, Rob Challice, V.i.S.A., DIJ, Jacques.
The Pilgrim's Progress was re-issued by Infrastition in 2008 together with a recording of CO Live at Festival des Musiques Mutantes 1986.
Dansez – 1984
Self-published – 1984
12" single published in 1984, made and distributed by New Rose.
Four tracks recorded and mixed by Pat Bouchard and Clair Obscur at Studio SDH, Rouen.
All tracks lyrics and music, Thierry Damerval, Christophe Demarthe, Nicolas Demarthe
Vocals, Christophe Demarthe
Guitar, Keyboards, Nicolas Demarthe
Bass, Keyboards, Thierry Damerval
Drums, Jean-Yves Liot
Percussions, Jacky Michel
Piano, Pat Bouchard
Cover design, Bernard Nicolino
Photos, Philippe Lobgeois
Drawings, Benoît Girodon
Santa Maria / Toundra – 1983
Self-published – 1983
7" single self-released in 1983, packaged in an opening cardboard cover (18,5 x 25) including six prints (10,5 x 15).
A Side – Santa Maria, recorded and mixed by Pat Bouchard at Studio SDH, Rouen.
B Side – Toundra, recorded and mixed by Philippe David at Studio Séquence, Paris.
All tracks lyrics and music, Thierry Damerval, Christophe Demarthe, Nicolas Demarthe
Vocals, Christophe Demarthe
Guitar, Keyboards, Nicolas Demarthe
Bass, Keyboards, Thierry Damerval
Drums, Jean-Yves Liot
Re-mastering, Markus Aschenbrenner
Cover design, Clair Obscur
Cover drawing adapted from Edvard Munch Madonna
Photos, Philippe Lobgeois and Miloud J
Sculpture & painting, Armelle Avril
La cassette noire – 1982
Self-published – 1982
La cassette noire was originally self-released in 1982 as a limited edition of 200 cassettes packaged in a black plastic bag including a 11 pages black & white photocopied booklet.
It contains nine tracks recorded at home (except K.G. and Revol Dub recorded and mixed by Philippe David at Studio Séquence, Paris).
All tracks lyrics and music, Thierry Damerval, Christophe Demarthe, Nicolas Demarthe
Vocals, Christophe Demarthe
Guitar, Keyboards, Nicolas Demarthe
Bass, Keyboards, Voice, Thierry Damerval
Drums, Jean-Yves Liot
Cover design, Clair Obscur
Drawing adapted from Edvard Munch The Scream
Texts and images, rights reserved
Re-issued in 1985 by Pleasantly Surprised (UK) as a cassette packaged in a transparent plastic bag including a badge