Étrange Hiver

Description

"Étrange Hiver" is indeed a new album by Tom McRae, not a duet album specifically aimed at the French market. Although he recorded it in Paris, Tom McRae, the main songwriter, performer, and sole producer who also mixed the album and took on the role of artistic director, wants to remind everyone of an obvious fact: he has been an international artist since his debut in 2000. Recognized by his peers, starting with Marianne Faithfull, who co-wrote "Love More Or Less" with him for her album "Give My Love To London" in 2014 (which also features contributions from Nick Cave, Anna Calvi, Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, Steve Earle, and Mick Jones of The Clash/B.A.D.), Tom McRae can count on the loyal support of a "generational" audience. Several syncs in films or TV series have been directly submitted to him via social media by fans who are now able to use his music. This is why he envisioned this new record as a television series, Tom McRae Season 10 (since Étrange Hiver is his tenth album), with each song representing an episode featuring a different guest artist. Of its eleven tracks, three are written in French by Vanille, Alex Beaupain, and Chien Noir. Seven songs in English, all written and composed by him, feature collaborations with Keren Ann (Wild Love, the first single), Helena Noguerra, Clou, Naya, Alma Forrer, Rose, and Aïtone. Additionally, there is one track sung by Tom alone in French/English, accompanied by the promising concert pianist Julien Brocal (a student of Maria João Pires and accompanist for Jane Birkin). With the album "Étrange Hiver," named after the song where lyricist Alex Beaupain and musician Tom McRae unite their voices, the Anglo-Saxon troubadour has not (yet?) recorded a full album in French but continues a beautiful and unique story of Franco-British cordiality.