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 siteWikipédia Français's page for Claire Ditzerzi (Google Translate's English version)
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
- Iris (2003)
- Boucle (2006)
- Requiem for Billy the Kid (soundtrack, 2007)
- Tableau de chasse (2008)
- Rosa la rouge (2010)
- Le Salon des Refusées (2013)
- 69 battements par minute (2015)
- L'Arbre en Poche (musical theatre, 2018)
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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Evocative/Eclectic |
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Other Genres... |
