Villa Solitude by Bruno Karnel
Urban and atmospheric, the music of French multi-instrumentalist Bruno Karnel borrows from various musical currents to create a highly personal style: post-rock, pop, prog, post-punk, metal...
In the footsteps of Las Ilusiones (2021) and Hic sunt dracones (2023), this third album Villa Solitude features eight tracks oscillating between melancholy and hope. Imaginary towns ('Leaving Diaspar'), dystopian urban centers ('Okhta-Tsentr') or cities ravaged by war ('Candlelight City') intersect in this musical travel diary where solitude is only apparent: for an acute ear, there is always a presence, lurking in the shadows of the notes - reassuring or threatening.
More instrumental and vintage than on its two predecessors, BK's music today is heavily influenced by the underground scenes of Central and Eastern Europe: Kauan, A Noend of Mine, Tábor or even Molchat Doma ('Vndadiem').
Tracklist
| 1. | Leaving Diaspar | 3:27 |
| 2. | Heliopolis | 3:49 |
| 3. | Candlelight City (ANOB) | 5:39 |
| 4. | Tvé Město I | 1:57 |
| 5. | Edepol | 3:45 |
| 6. | Lightnings | 6:51 |
| 7. | Okhta-Tsentr | 6:53 |
| 8. | Vndadiem ou le 21h06 | 7:58 |
Credits
BK : acoustic and electric guitars, Borisov bass, domra, saz, mandolin, keys, sampler and field recording, vocals
Basile Combes : drums and percussion
Guests :
Matthieu Gajewski : bass guitar on 'Diaspar', 'Candlelight' and 'Lightnings'
Sonia : vocals on 'Candlelight', 'Okhta-Tsentr' and 'Lightnings'
Roman Starkman : piano on 'Diaspar' and 'Vndadiem'
Polina Chorna : piano on 'Lightnings'
Iryna Kulshenka : vocals on 'Heliopolis'
Ella Yevtuchenko : vocals on 'Vndiadiem'
Polina Faustova : cello on 'Lightnings'
Artem Litovchenko : cello on 'Diaspar'
Oleksandra Vyentseva : violin on 'Candlelight'
All words and music by Bruno Karnel. All songs arranged by Bruno Karnel.
Recorded and mixed by Florent Morel at Marg'Sound Studio (France)
Mastered by Thomas 'Plec' Johansson at Panic Room Studio (Sweden)
Cover photo by Sonia – Artwork and layout by Oleksandr Kurta
