Country : Canada Label : Marlow Genres and styles : Acid-Jazz / Groove / Instrumental Hip Hop / Orchestral Pop / Soundtrack Year : 2020

Les Paradis artificiels

· by Frédéric Cardin

Oh, did I have fun listening to Les Paradis artificiels by Cinephonic, the brand new project by Pierre Chrétien of Souljazz Orchestra and Slim Moore and the Mar-Kays. The guy, hailing from Ontario, is first pianist, vibraphonist, mellotronist and leader/composer.

All nine irresistibly groovy and mellowy tracks on the album are as many neo-vintage strolls through a certain kind of seductive French cinema music of the ’60s and ’70s. But not only! Chrétien brings in his own ingredients, of orchestral jazz, of colours and rhythmic swings that would have suited the likes of Isaac Hayes or Bobby Womack, and all that with circa big, fat, juicy instrumental hip-hop beats.

Of course, the pioneering inspirations in the genre are recognizable: Air, Cinematic Orchestra, Jocelyn Tellier, Saint Etienne. Les Paradis artificiels doesn’t reinvent the wheel of instrumental pop, but, when it works so well, why bother? In this case, it means playing it over and over, and just enjoy life!

Chrétien benefits from the services of two other great musicians, Robert Biesewig (Wu-Tang Clan, Ghostface Killah, Alchemist) and Marielle Rivard, percussionist brought from Souljazz Orchestra and the Mar-Kays. Concerning the orchestral arrangements, without any money for a real orchestra (thanks for nothing, Ontario Arts Council!), Chrétien played everything himself (strings on mellotron, and then flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, etc.)! Kudos and hats off for that!

Press play, and let it go on repeat the whole day! Be it while reading, contemplating the outside world on a rainy day, or going out for a walk or a quick jog through city streets. It works, whatever you’re doing, and it plunges you into a bewitching atmosphere with wonderfully evocative and imaginary panoramas.

Cinephonic’s Les Paradis artificiels, it’s like being the hero in your own personal movie.

Latest 360 Content

Lady Gaga – Mayhem

Lady Gaga – Mayhem

Semaine du Neuf | Paramirabo/Musikfabrik: old school avant-garde meets cool post-modernism

Semaine du Neuf | Paramirabo/Musikfabrik: old school avant-garde meets cool post-modernism

Semaine du Neuf | Tim Brady and The Symphony in 18 Parts

Semaine du Neuf | Tim Brady and The Symphony in 18 Parts

Violons du Roy | Mozart, Dvořák, Kodály and Johann Strauss: an unexpected aperitif encounter

Violons du Roy | Mozart, Dvořák, Kodály and Johann Strauss: an unexpected aperitif encounter

Semaine du Neuf | Quatuor Bozzini: “Effusion of Friendship” With Oesterle, Smith and Arnold

Semaine du Neuf | Quatuor Bozzini: “Effusion of Friendship” With Oesterle, Smith and Arnold

Melodînes | Cyrille Angers and Bruce Gaulin, a Trio of Questions for a Flute-Piano Duo!

Melodînes | Cyrille Angers and Bruce Gaulin, a Trio of Questions for a Flute-Piano Duo!

Shunk – Shunkland

Shunk – Shunkland

A Celestial Journey: Holst’s The Planets with the OPCM

A Celestial Journey: Holst’s The Planets with the OPCM

Semaine du Neuf | “Listen with your eyes closed”: Acousmatic Music by Annette Vande Gorne

Semaine du Neuf | “Listen with your eyes closed”: Acousmatic Music by Annette Vande Gorne

Semaine du Neuf | When Opera Questions Technology

Semaine du Neuf | When Opera Questions Technology

Big Band for women at UdeM

Big Band for women at UdeM

Semaine du Neuf | Horror-themed kick-off event

Semaine du Neuf | Horror-themed kick-off event

Semaine du Neuf | Paramirabo-Musikfabrik: Montreal-Cologne encounter

Semaine du Neuf | Paramirabo-Musikfabrik: Montreal-Cologne encounter

Dômesicle | Kap Bambino and Alix Fernz transform the Dome into sensory chaos

Dômesicle | Kap Bambino and Alix Fernz transform the Dome into sensory chaos

Semaine du Neuf | Chants Libres : Laboratoire Lyrik 03, “La voix lumineuse”

Semaine du Neuf | Chants Libres : Laboratoire Lyrik 03, “La voix lumineuse”

Once Upon a Time… 100 Women | Diane Tell’s Playlist

Once Upon a Time… 100 Women | Diane Tell’s Playlist

Violons du Roy and La Chapelle de Québec | An Evening of Discovery in The Footsteps of Bach’s Early Cantatas

Violons du Roy and La Chapelle de Québec | An Evening of Discovery in The Footsteps of Bach’s Early Cantatas

Regularfantasy, Activism and Creativity in the Women’s Electronic MTL Scene

Regularfantasy, Activism and Creativity in the Women’s Electronic MTL Scene

International Women’s Rights Day in the Electronic Music World, a Montreal Case

International Women’s Rights Day in the Electronic Music World, a Montreal Case

Dicko Fils – La route

Dicko Fils – La route

Semaine du Neuf | Nanatasis: Three Abenaki Legends, Puppets, and an Opera

Semaine du Neuf | Nanatasis: Three Abenaki Legends, Puppets, and an Opera

Semaine du Neuf | Quasar: A Lithuanian/Ukrainian Program and… Everything That Scares Me

Semaine du Neuf | Quasar: A Lithuanian/Ukrainian Program and… Everything That Scares Me

PHI Center | La mort du troisième couplet, Sensei H’s Redemption

PHI Center | La mort du troisième couplet, Sensei H’s Redemption

Semaine du Neuf: ALL about the program

Semaine du Neuf: ALL about the program

Subscribe to our newsletter