{discography}

Armes & Cycles

Release: 1979 - Phonogram 9101210
Re-release: 2003 - Label Frères M3 1979
Graphic design François Bréant

There were rumours about the castle of Hérouville, where “ Armes et cycles ” was recorded, concerning the presence of spirits that had appeared long ago and supposedly re-appeared after the Second World War. More recently, some musicians had said they had got in contact with their ancestors. Laurent Thibault, the studio sound engineer, told some pretty convincing stories, and yet our approach to things paranormal was rather earthy, nothing but normal. We never had a single conversation with spooks. We had to touch to believe !

During the mixing of “ Le réveil ”, we suddenly heard , in the distance, in a gap between two phrases: SHDONG! : the village bell, in tune with the piece. Should we take the coincidence as the first symptom of a ghostly manifestation ? We didn't give it too much thought and went on working. But when we listened to it the second time, the bell rang again at the same place, we had to face the fact, whether we liked it or not: the bell had been recorded on the tape. It wasn't there before. We were positive. It is impossible for trained musicians and sound engineers, who are paying attention, have a good ear and an acutely critical mind, not to notice an “ alien ” sound in a piece where all instruments were recorded separately… Moreover, the outside noises could be heard from the cabin, but not from the recording studio where the soundproofing was perfectly satisfactory.

Just before I re-mastered “ Armes et Cycles ”, I listened to that bit again. The bell was no longer there… Only joking, it's still there, in the distance, at the right place, and it's still the same pitch.