Les Retrouvailles is the fifth studio album by French musician Yann Tiersen. Released in 2005 through Ici, d'ailleurs... record label, it features a number of high-profile guest vocalists, both French and Anglophone alike: Christophe Miossec, Dominique A, Elizabeth Fraser (of the Cocteau Twins), Jane Birkin, and Stuart Staples (of the Tindersticks). As is customary with his albums, Tiersen showcases his multi-instrumental skills, which on the album encompasses the accordion, piano, mandolin, and harpsichord, among others.

Les Retrouvailles
Studio album by
Released23 May 2005
GenreClassical crossover
Length43:33
LabelIci, d'ailleurs...
ProducerYann Tiersen and Fabrice Laureau
Yann Tiersen chronology
Yann Tiersen & Shannon Wright
(2004)
Les Retrouvailles
(2005)
On Tour
(2006)

Les Retrouvailles also includes a DVD featuring a short film entitled La Traversée, directed by Aurelie du Boys, which documents the making of the album and incorporates an animated video for the non-album track, "Le Train," and also live versions of a handful of songs.

Track listing edit

Music and lyrics written by Yann Tiersen, except where noted.[1][2]

  1. "Western" - 2:23
  2. "Kala" (Fraser, Tiersen) - 4:09 (Sung by Elizabeth Fraser)
  3. "Loin des villes" - 3:19
  4. "La Veillée" - 3:11
  5. "Plus d'hiver" - 2:23 (Sung by Jane Birkin)
  6. "A ceux qui sont malades par mer calme" - 3:30
  7. "A Secret Place" (Staples, Tiersen) - 3:26 (Sung by Stuart A. Staples)
  8. "Le Matin" - 1:58
  9. "Les Enfants" - 2:00
  10. "Le Jour de l'ouverture" (Ané, Miossec, Tiersen) - 3:38 (Sung by Miossec and Dominique A)
  11. "La Boulange" - 2:46
  12. "La Plage" - 1:57
  13. "Mary" - 3:38 (Sung by Elizabeth Fraser)
  14. "7:PM" - 2:40
  15. "Les Retrouvailles" - 1:30
  16. "La Jetée" - 1:05

Personnel edit

  • Yann Tiersen – accordion, alto saxophone, banjo, bass, Bontempi, carillon, cello, clavecin, double bass, drums, ebow, Fender Rhodes, guitar, Korg synthesizer, mandolin, marimba, melodica, organ, percussion, piano, toy piano, vibraphone, violone
  • Elizabeth Fraser - vocals on "Kala" and "Mary"
  • Jane Birkin - vocals on "Plus d'hiver"
  • Stuart A. Staples - vocals on "A Secret Place"
  • Dominique A - vocals on "Le Jour de l'ouverture"
  • Miossec - vocals on "Le Jour de l'ouverture"
  • Jean-François Assy - violoncello on "Kala", "La Veillée", "A Secret Place", and "La Boulange"
  • Orchestre National de Paris on "Kala", "La Veillée", "Le Jour De L'Ouverture", "Mary", and "Les Retrouvailles"
  • Frederic Dessus - violin on "La Veillée", "Plus d'hiver" and "Mary"
  • Guillaume Fontanarosa - violin on "La Veillée", "Plus d'hiver" and "Mary"
  • Bertrand Causse - vertical viola on "La Veillée", "Plus d'hiver", and "Mary"
  • Anne Causse Biragnet - violoncello on "La Veillée", "Plus d'hiver", and "Mary"
  • Armelle Legoff - violin on "Plus d'hiver" and "Mary"
  • Frédéric Haffner - violin on "Plus d'hiver" and "Mary"
  • Elliott - flute on "Les Enfants"
  • Ludovic Morillon - drums on "La Boulange"
  • Christine Ott - ondes Martenot on "La Boulange"

Charts edit

Chart (2005) Peak
position
Belgian Albums Chart (Vl)[3] 40
Belgian Albums Chart (Wa)[4] 96
French Albums Chart[5] 6
Swiss Albums Chart[6] 48

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[7] Gold 75,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References edit

  1. ^ Les Retrouvailles at Discogs (list of releases)
  2. ^ Les Retrouvailles at AllMusic
  3. ^ "Yann Tiersen - Les Retrouvailles". ultratop.be. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  4. ^ "Yann Tiersen - Les Retrouvailles". ultratop.be. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  5. ^ "Yann Tiersen - Les Retrouvailles". lescharts.com. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  6. ^ "Yann Tiersen - Les Retrouvailles". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  7. ^ "French album certifications – Yann Tiersen – Les Retrouvailles" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.