“Verlaine Et Rimbaud - Volume 1” captures Léo Ferré at his most uncompromising and visionary, fusing French poetry with the gravity of art song and the emotional directness of chanson. Rather than merely setting verses to music, Ferré inhabits the words of Paul Verlaine and Arthur Rimbaud, treating each poem like a dramatic monologue. His voice—grainy, intense, and deeply human—carries the weight of every line, while the pared‑back orchestration and classical-leaning harmonies give the album a timeless, almost liturgical aura.
This record is essential if you’re drawn to the meeting point of literature and music. Ferré doesn’t smooth out the edges of these texts; he leans into their melancholy, their rebellion, and their erotic charge. You can hear the tension between 19th‑century symbolism and 20th‑century disillusionment in every pause and crescendo.
On vinyl, the intimacy of these performances becomes almost physical: breaths, silences, and dynamic swells feel like they’re happening in the room with you. Collectors of European song, lovers of Western art music, and anyone who believes lyrics can stand alongside great poetry will find this volume indispensable—a record to sit with, read along to, and rediscover over time.
Track List:
A1 - Ecoutez La Chanson Bien Douce - 2:44
A2 - Chanson De La Plus Haute Tour - 2:12
A3 - Il Patinait Merveilleusement - 1:48
A4 - Mon Rêve Familier - 2:01
A5 - Soleils Couchants - 1:47
A6 - Les Assis - 3:10
A7 - L'espoir Luit Comme Un Brin De Paille Dans L'étable - 2:12
B1 - Art Poétique - 3:26
B2 - Pensionnaires - 2:25
B3 - Ame, Te Souvient-il ? - 2:39
B4 - Le Buffet - 2:01
B5 - Les Poètes De Sept Ans - 5:08