'Imaginary Journeys' - Album release: December 8, 2023
NEW SINGLE 'I SAW YOU IN MY DREAM': October 27
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The Art of the Sun
Welcome.
MUSIC BRIDGES UNIVERSES.
As an independent composer & musician, for years, I've been playing music without composing nor recording.
Now It's done.
In love with the diversity of musical styles, music is, to me, above all a bridge between GENERATIONS, cultures, geographies.
and,
essentially,
a mirror reflecting self-discovery in the presence of others.
I invite you to embark on a journey within 'Imaginary Journeys' : a chronological and musical frieze OF MY relation WIITH MUsIC.
FROM My childhood up tO NOW.
IN four parts.
Thanks for being there
and
Welcome.
DISCOVER
IMAGINARY
JOURNEYS
A CONCEPT ALBUM IN 4 PARTS
Imaginary Journeys is the culmination of a lifelong musical odyssey.
From the earliest notes of my childhood, music has been my unwavering companion, intertwining with the fabric of my imagination. From the sprawling landscapes of my adolescence, music served as a portal to distant realms, unveiling elusive sonic treasures that were hidden away in the countryside.
Music, in all its diversity, serves as a unifying force, transcending temporal and physical boundaries, weaving connections where there were none.
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This art form, demanding in its creativity, doesn't settle for the mundane. The allure of the concept album, with its power to breathe life into unique narratives and imaginative realms, has always beckoned me.
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Now, the time has come to pay homage to this steadfast companion, for the countless years of harmony it has shared with me.
Embarking on a journey, all by myself, facing a blank canvas, I made a decision after the summer of 2022 that would define a new chapter in my musical story. It was time to compose, record, and produce a solo album, from the first note to the final mix.
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I consciously chose to embrace the limitation of composing within the musical styles that deeply resonated with me at different phases of my life. Within this constraint, akin to a momentary discipline, we unearth our true selves and discover freedom. And when the creation ends, it is enough to throw away the concept of discipline and look with a new eye, and view, with fresh eyes, that self-reinvented part of ourselves that we have become.
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As I immersed myself in the recording process, I came to realize that this wasn't about mere gaps; it was a quest for unity. Music's power lies precisely in its ability to transcend styles, defy categories, and shatter hierarchies – to bring people together, to open hearts, to breathe life into freedom, and to convey the universal, undeniably human essence that lies within us all.
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Isn't that, after all, the enigmatic secret of music's boundless universality?
PART I : 1980 - 2000
Born in 1980, my childhood was bathed in vinyl, cassettes and video tapes from my parents, and - last but not the least - with the arrival of video games culture.
As part of the early 80s generation, this period was to nourish me by its crossing between new music, the omnipotence of analog, the arrival of early digital music - especially in synthesizers, the maturity of modern musical forms (blues, rock, electronics) and the 80s powerful crossing of new sounds and new images.With an emphasis placed on visual as well as musical appeal, many musical groups concentrated nearly as much time on their appearance and choreography.
This dreamful sketches have fueled my imagination as a young child. In the middle of all this, my little brother arrived in 1989 and became my best music and video games friend.
PART II : 2000 - 2010
In my youthful journey, I embarked on a boundless quest for knowledge. My explorations spanned literature, cinema, science, art, geographies...these were the days when digital platforms unfurled a vast access to music, and I reveled in the flow of global rhythms.
Those years engraved upon my soul the profound truth that music serves as a unifying thread, stitching together generations, cultures, and distant lands. It is the profound universal tongue, unveiling a shared consciousness and cosmic order.
Music isn't singular but myriad, forming an ever-expanding spiral of dimensions. Each coil is a complete universe, and each universe merely a coil. Music transforms us into the spiral, embracing all spirals within.
PART III : 2010 - 2020
After years of exploration, the birth of my daughters profoundly altered my worldview. Diligently observing their childhood was akin to gazing into the mirror of my own life. Each day brings fresh revelations.
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My time in Germany imparted the wisdom of minimalism and the tranquility of neo-classical music. Delving into jazz harmony and piano, I discovered that the quest for a few notes could become an extensive journey.
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It was about unearthing hidden truths within life's interstices, a pursuit achievable only through dedicated, introspective, and passionate work. Embracing minimalism and contemporary music allowed me to distill a decade of diverse listening experiences into a source of inner serenity.
PART IV : 2020 & beyond
My encounter with analog synthesis dawned upon me when I realized that Nature communicate through a musical language, and whether we embrace it or not, machines can aid humanity in comprehending it.
The boundless realm of analog synthesis enticed me deeply, propelling me into this culture. I embarked on the journey of crafting my own modular synthesizer.
From that point onward, boundless possibilities unfolded. The tangible and instinctive nature of analog synthesis ignited a fervor within me: creation became accessible to all, and every moment evolved into an open canvas of artistic expression.
List of Tracks
Part I
01. VHS 1980
Composition & Arrangement: Rémi Paccou
TR-707: Rémi Paccou
Synths, Guitars (Bass & Electric): Rémi Paccou
Mixing & Mastering: Mathieu Gaud
03. Dreams
Composition & Arrangement: Rémi Paccou
TR-707: Rémi Paccou
Synths, Guitars (Bass & Electric): Rémi Paccou
Voices: Jesse Jackson’s - Wattstax Opening Speech
Mixing & Mastering: Mathieu Gaud
​
02. Freedom
Composition & Arrangement: Rémi Paccou
TR-505, Pianos, Synths, Saxophone: Rémi Paccou
Guitars (Bass & Electric): Rémi Paccou
Spoken Voice: Jim Harrison
Voices & Choirs: Tee Mogano (Thank U my friend)
Mixing & Mastering: Mathieu Gaud
04. Life
Composition & Arrangement: Rémi Paccou
Piano, Synths: Rémi Paccou
Bass Guitar: Rémi Paccou
Voices & Choirs: VytautÄ— MakutytÄ—
Mixing & Mastering: Mathieu Gaud
Part II
05. Jardin Vauban
Composition & Arrangement: Rémi Paccou
Piano, Synths, Acoustic Guitar: Rémi Paccou
Spoken Poem: Guillaume Apollinaire, Le Pont Mirabeau, by the Author, Original, 1913
Voices & Choirs: Julia Brassel
Mixing & Mastering: Mathieu Gaud
06. From Mali To Mississippi
Composition & Arrangement: Rémi Paccou
Sitar: Rémi Paccou
Acoustic, Bass & Electric Guitars: Rémi Paccou
Spoken Dialog: Ali Farka Touré
Mixing & Mastering: Mathieu Gaud
07. Liberations
Composition & Arrangement: Rémi Paccou
Piano, Synths: Rémi Paccou
Solo Guitar: Loïc Boone (my beloved Slash!)
Spoken Text: Emmeline Pankhurst,
'Freedom or Death', 1913
Mixing & Mastering: Mathieu Gaud
08. Empty Words
Original Track: Popion
TR-505, Piano, Synths: Rémi Paccou
Mixing & Mastering: Mathieu Gaud
Part III
Part IV
09. I Saw You In My Dream
Composition & Arrangement: Rémi Paccou
TR-707: Rémi Paccou
Piano, Synths: Rémi Paccou
Voices: Tee Mogano
Mixing & Mastering: Mathieu Gaud
​
13. Love On A Real Train
Original Track: Tangerine Dream, from 'Risky Business'
Bass & Electric Guitars: Rémi Paccou
Electric Guitar Solo : Fabrice Lacourt
Synth Solo : Rémi Paccou
Voices & Choirs: 'Risky Business', 1983
Mixing & Mastering: Mathieu Gaud
​
10. And Suddenly You Were There
Composition & Arrangement: Rémi Paccou
TR-707: Rémi Paccou
Piano & Synths: Rémi Paccou
Mixing & Mastering: Mathieu Gaud
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14. The Hearts Of The Suns
Composition & Arrangement: Rémi Paccou
12 Strings-Acoustic Guitar: Rémi Paccou
Piano, Mellotron: Rémi Paccou
Moog Modular, ARP Odyssey, ARP 2600: Rémi Paccou
Spoken Voice: David Bohm
Mixing & Mastering: Mathieu Gaud
11. Childhoods
Composition & Arrangement: Rémi Paccou
TR-505: Rémi Paccou
Piano, Synths: Rémi Paccou
Voices: Anna & Romane
Mixing & Mastering: Mathieu Gaud
15. Reunion
Original Track: Colin Benders, Live Session
All Analog Synthesis: Own-built analog synth, Moog Modular, ARP Odyssey, ARP 2600: Rémi Paccou
Mixing & Mastering: Mathieu Gaud
12. Périples Imaginaires
Composition & Arrangement: Rémi Paccou
Piano, Synths, Bass Guitars: Rémi Paccou
Spoken Voice: Jacques Prévert, 'Un poète à Paris'
Mixing & Mastering: Mathieu Gaud
16. We Are Rivers
Composition & Arrangement: Rémi Paccou
Piano & Synths: Rémi Paccou
Spoken Poem: Jim Harrison
Mixing & Mastering: Mathieu Gaud
All songs played on Fender Stratocaster US Deluxe, Gibson Firebird 1963, Martin D-28 Marquis, Maton EM100C-12 Messiah, Fender Jazz Bass, Mechanical Yamaha Piano, Yamaha DX-7, Casio CZ, ARP Odyssey MKII 1973, Arturia Polybrute, Arturia Matrixbrute, analog home-made synthesizers (thanks Mutable Instruments!), TR-505, TR-707, Calcutta Manipuri Sitar (bought in 2009 in Bangalore!), Buffet Crampon Saxophone
And I admit :) a homeopathic dose of plug-in :)
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All tracks mixed & mastered at Mémoire Mécanique Studio, Grenoble, France
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