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Claire Diterzi


Country of origin:

France

Type of music generally:

Beautiful and fierce experimental, evocative/eclectic pop

Status:

Most recent release, L'Arbre en Poche (musical theatre, 2018); most recent regular release, 69 battements par minute (2015)

See also:

Claire Diterzi's site

Wikipédia Français's page for Claire Ditzerzi (Google Translate's English version)

Claire Diterzi's facebook page

Comparisons:

She is unique, but the best description I can come up with is a darker Kate Bush

Covers/own material:

Mostly own; occasional covers and co-writing

General comments:

Claire Diterzi's music feels like a force of nature: stormy, complicated, unique and yet universal. She can be experimental, but also traditional. She's not afraid of wild, rough edges or of softness, though the edgy and tougher side does predominate. Her music is a brilliant mix of Kate Bush inventiveness, a little Middle Eastern influence, a touch of Kym Brown. Really, just wonderful, energetic, creative music and interesting vocals and a confidence with experimenting that really won me over. Highly, highly recommended, and a must-listen for anyone interested in Kate Bush-like creativity. (Neile)

Recommended first album:

Tableau de chasse

Recordings:

As Forguette Mi Note

  • Gargouillis (1993)
  • Cruciforme (1994)

as Dit Terzi

  • Comme un schisme (1997)
  • Dit Terzi (2000)

as Claire Diterzi


Boucle

Release info:

2006—Naïve Records—NV 808011

Availability:

France

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Claire Diterzi—vocals, guitars, backing vocals, programming, kalimba, string arrangements

Guest artists:

Tao Hiboo—programming (1, 6)
F. Tessier—programming (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9); bass (4)
Boogers—programmming (2, 4, 5)
Didier Plisson—timpani (3)
Nicolas Gaignard—horn
Joséphine K.—"participation" (3)
Sylvestre Purrusson—programming and string arrangements (7, 8)
Floriene Bonanni—violin 1 (7, 8)
Martin Blondeau—violin 2 (7, 8)
Aurélia Souvingeé Kowalski—viola (7, 8)
Jean Claude Auclin—cello (7)
E. Cortès—programming (9)

Comments:

"Boucle" translates as loop, or buckle. This is an amazing and powerful album, complex and gorgeous. Claire Diterzi alternatively wails and croons. Highly effective and affecting. (Neile)

Requiem for Billy the Kid

Release info:

2007—Naïve Records—K 1622

Availability:

France

Ecto priority:

Recommended for soundtrack and Claire Diterzi fans

Group members:

Claire Diterzi—vocals and other instruments

Guest artists:

Christine Payeau—viola da gamba
Sylverstre Perrusson—bass, musical saw
Olive Perrusson—viola
Kris Kristofferson—vocals (5, 16, 18)

Comments:

This is the soundtrack for Anne Feinsilber's movie. Dreamy, dark, twangy, and western. Includes a husky, whispered cover of Dylan's "Knocking on Heaven's Door," three tracks with spoken word by Kris Kristofferson, and a lot of strange, haunting vocalizations and whistling over instrumental lines. If you like odd soundtracks you should give this one a try. (Neile)

Tableau de chasse

Release info:

2008—Naïve Records—NV813511

Availability:

France

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Claire Diterzi—vocals, guitars, programming, other instruments

Guest artists:

Fabien Tessier—drums (3, 8); additional programming
Olive Perrusson—additional viola (1, 3, 6)
Étienne Bonhomme—additional programming

Comments:

"Tableau de chasse" translates as "Hunting Season."

Oh, I love this! Creative in a similar way to Kate Bush, experiementing with vocals, sounds, and stories, it is both playful and passionate. And brilliant. One of my favourite albums of 2008, making Claire Ditzeri one of my favourite discoveries of the year. (Neile)


Rosa la rouge

Release info:

2010—Naïve Records

Availability:

France

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Claire Diterzi—vocals, backing vocals, guitars, zither, programming

Guest artists:

Étienne Bonhomme—drums, programming (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11); backing vocals (4)
Baptiste Germser—French horn (2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11); backing vocals (4)
Céric Chatelain—oboe, clarinet, flutes, bombing (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10), backing vocals (4)
Lambert Wilson—voice (6)
Jack Lanana—percussion, additional programming (2, 3, 7)

Comments:

This is an album composed for a production based on the life of the socialist activist and heroine Rosa Luxembourg, who was assassinated in 1918. This is a passionate, powerful tribute and not at all the usual nostalgic vision of other tributes. It's now up there with my other favourite musical exploration of a woman's life, Veda Hille's Here is a picture (Songs for E Carr). Like all the other Claire Diterzi albums I've heard, it's ambitious, offbeat, provocative, sometimes uncomfortable, but overall delightful listening. (Neile)

Le Salon des Refusées

Release info:

2013—Naïve Records

Availability:

Europe

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Claire Diterzi—voix, guitare, basse, clavier, kalimba, programmations

Guest artists:

Christine Payeux—viole de gambe (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11 12); arrangement viole de gambe (2, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12)
Etienne Bonhomme—percussions (1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11 12); programmations (1, 6)
Alban Rouge—basse (1)
Jean-Baptist Savarit—guitare (2, 7, 8, 11 12)
Vincent Segal—violincelle (3, 6, 11 12); clavier (8)
Magic Malik—flûte (4)

Comments:

Claire Diterzi returns with another fascinating project, with a lot of viola da gamba and early music soundings. It's strange and amazing and endlessly inventive. A top release of 2013. (Neile)

69 battements par minute

Release info:

2015—Naïve Records

Availability:

Europe

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Claire Diterzi—voix, guitare, basse, programmations, uklélé, clavier

Guest artists:

David Aknin—batterie (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 14)
Christophe Rodomisto—guitare, (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, 14)
Antoine Simoni—basse (1, 2, 3, 4, 5); clavier (1, 3, 4, 5)
Nicolas Boscovic—basse (7)

Comments:

Possibly her most fierce album, though it also some moments of pure fun. Her music is sui generis, full of unexpected but always intriguing turns and noises. (Neile)

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DISCLAIMER: Comments and reviews in the Ectophiles' Guide are excerpted from the ecto mailing list or volunteered by members of the list. They are the opinions of music enthusiasts, not professional music critics.

Entry last updated 2022-01-31 19:51:54.
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