LET IN THE LIGHT (vinyl)

Description

"Shannon Wright continues to release albums of rarely disputed quality. Almost untouchable." Noise"Unaltered grace, still raw, on piano or guitar" Les InrocksFew rock artists manage to span decades while preserving the energy, urgency, and passion of their beginnings. While some remain anchored to their comfort zone, others navigate courageously, guided by sudden desires and encounters, in a way submitting to their devotion to music. Like American Shannon Wright, who for over 15 years, has been openly releasing magnificent and free albums, some of which have become classics. Examples include Over The Sun (2004, produced by Steve Albini – they have remained close), the aptly named Let in the Light (2007), and the most recent In Film Sound (2013), a rock storm recorded live in Louisville (USA) with the formidable friends from the band Shipping News.A new chapter for Division. It began with a crush, that of French musician Katia Labèque (a world-renowned pianist, with her sister Marielle), who discovered Shannon Wright at a concert. The best she had seen in many years, in her words. The meeting and compliments of the evening did not go unheeded, as she invited the American to record in her studio in Rome. Shannon Wright took advantage of an Italian tour to go there, uncertain of any outcome. She ultimately wrote three songs in two days, strongly inspired by the studio's atmosphere and its superb pianos. The Division adventure began.Several months of intense work followed with musician/producer/sound engineer David Chalmin, between Rome and Paris... and also remotely from the United States, to faithfully reproduce the new sounds haunting the mind of the Atlanta songwriter. Shannon Wright wrote, composed, and played almost all the parts (including some drums, others performed by the excellent drummer Raphaël Séguinier), with the talent and singularity that have made her internationally renowned.While the title track "Division" gives voice to Shannon Wright's other half, her faithful Jazzmaster, this new album is primarily built around keyboards (pianos, organs, Wurlitzer, electronic keyboards). From the rebellious "The Thirst" ("a fool, a con, a fiend, you fell into a fool") to the more enigmatic "Lighthouse (Drag us in)," passing through the rollercoaster of the epic "Soft Noise": Shannon Wright, served by a subtle combination of acoustic and electronic arrangements (new for her), delivers an album of rare depth, illuminated from beginning to end by such a poignant and extraordinary voice.An unclassifiable album; no futuristic pretensions, no tiresome, umpteenth revival. Simply a great album released in 2017, personal and moving, unlike any other, and one that will be listened to for a long time to come.