Colleen’s urge for experiment leads her to go full Moog on her latest release. You read right: full Moog…

Since the rise of streaming audio playlists we have been unawarely listening to Cécile Schott’s music for quite some time now. Under the name of Colleen she evolved her compositions throughout the years. Her first work contained looped samples of her record collection but also began experimenting with the viola da gamba later on. Now she dives deep into the analog world of modular Moog-synthesizer which she brought with her to the Le Guess Who? festival. Here she filled up the Janskerk with divine and urgent sounds which led us to write down a few words about her latest release.

Le jour et la nuit du réel is Colleen’s ninth album and continues her exploration into the world of electronica. In recent years she has been focussing on synths but this double album shifts in style and structure from for example A Flame My Love, A Frequency (2017). Le jour is split into seven parts and all about minimalistic vibes, using the possibilities of the Moog platform to transform melodies. It could feel lighter compared to some of her previous albums, but if you’re into refined music, this one also offers some tense treasures.

The album structure and theme fits the title perfectly as the album is divided into day and night with a transition between the two. The day suites, Subterranean, The long wait, To hold and to be held and Mon coeur carry tension and edgy sounds. The tension is heard best on The long wait which showcases Colleen’s mastery in playing around with synth and delay settings while Mon coeur’s fluttering tones remind of beginning sundowns.

Hereafter the first part ends with Be without being seen which contains movements that end daytime and bring forth twilight. The night suites Les Parenthèses Enchantées and Night Looping are slow and lush and feel like dreamy echoes. Here one of the standouts is the suite Les parenthèses enchantées, which almost ticks the 20 minutes altogether. Movement I feels minimal and Satie-like, with some soft melodies and subtle echoes. Movement III keeps that vibe but adds some unpredictable passages, creating a rainy night mood.

As Sounds from The Dark Side we obviously have a better click with the latter half of Le jour. Still it’s also clear as day that both sides share some wonderful melodies that seem to endlessly keep rolling in-and over each other. It’s cool to see Schott coming back to pure instrumental stuff after ten years as she only recorded using the Moog Grandmother synth.

This album might not have the catchiest tunes, but it’s a showcase of Schott’s incredible craftsmanship and focus. For those who appreciate detailed and thought-out music, this is gold. Le jour et la nuit du réel is an ideal companion album to Standers by mystery analog synth master Craven Faults. While the latter leans towards the meditative side of ambient-techno, Colleen’s Le jour is full of elegant colours that follows the routines of life around us.

Label: Thrill Jockey, 2023

Buy it here: https://thrilljockey.com/products/le-jour-et-la-nuit-du-reel

Track listing:

1. Subterranean – Movement I (3:44)
2. Subterranean – Movement II (3:30)
3. Subterranean – Movement III (3:11)
4. The Long Wait – Movement I (2:33)
5. The Long Wait – Movement II (3:00)
6. To Hold and to Be Held – Movement I (1:29)
7. To Hold and to Be Held – Movement II (1:35)
8. Mon Coeur – Movement I (1:51)
9. Mon Coeur – Movement II (1:10)
10. Mon Coeur – Movement III (1:17)
11. Be Without Being Seen – Movement I (2:05)
12. Be Without Being Seen – Movement II (1:29)
13. Be Without Being Seen – Movement III (1:21)
14. Les Parenthèses Enchantées – Movement I (4:40)
15. Les Parenthèses Enchantées – Movement II (4:00)
16. Les Parenthèses Enchantées – Movement III (5:26)
17. Les Parenthèses Enchantées – Movement IV (3:01)
18. Les Parenthèses Enchantées – Epilogue (3:00)
19. Night Looping – Movement I (2:11)
20. Night Looping – Movement II (2:17)
21. Night Looping – Movement III (3:46)

Review by Wander Meulemans // 011223