In  just  a  year  of  existence,  Chloé’s  Lumière  Noire  has  brought  emerging  artists  and  promising  newcomers  together  –  and  this  first  compilation  of  13  brand  new  tracks  expands  the  roster,  exposing  the  label’s  eclectic  vision  in  full  daylight.  When  Chloé  talks  about  her  label,  she  puts  forward  the  fundamental  values  that  informed  her  own  musical  journey,  her  trust  in  her  own  musical  taste  –  and,  of  course,  the  predominance  of  human  relationships:  “I  followed  my  bliss  and  only  commissioned  tracks  from  artists  that  I  respect  and  whose  music  I  love.  That  to  me  is  Lumière  Noire’s  musical  palette.”With  this  13-track,  unmixed  compilation,  Chloé  makes  a  case  for  a  label  aesthetic  that  is  based  in  open-mindedness.  Familiar,  elemental  Lumière  Noire  artists  are  represented,  as  are  new  faces,  producing  a  kind  of  group  photo  presaging  what’s  next  for  the  fledgling  label.  Lyon’s  Markus  Gibb  leads  the  track  listing  with  Kuru  with  a  deep  chiaroscuro  matching  the  label’s  ethos,  followed  by  other  mainstays  Il  Est  Vilaine’s  Farenheit  451,  which  evokes  Ray  Bradbury’s  retro-dystopic  angst  with  the  band’s  usual  electro-pop  elegance.  Sutja  Gutierrez,  who  released  in  debut  EP,  The  Legend  of  Time  on  Lumière  Noire  in  April,  pursues  his  electro-Shamanism  with  the  ceremonial  Allodoxaphobia,  while  Iñigo  Vontier  (whose  EP  Aluxes  came  out  on  the  label  in  late  2017)  brings  his  Contra  project  online  with  track  Taurus,  a  further  development  in  voodoo  house.  Elsewhere,  Suuns  lead  singer  Ben  Shemie,  who  lent  his  fascinating  art-rock  croon  to  Recall,  a  single  from  Chloé’s  Endless  Revisions  LP,  contributes  A  Million  Kinds,  a  synthy,  psych-pop  debut  that  is  as  brilliant  as  it  is  surprising.  On  to  the  freshman  class:  Dutch  producer  Drvg  Cvltvre  (who  gets  personal  kudos  from  Chloé  with  each  new  12”)  brings  the  uncompromising  dark  electro  of  his  hypnotic  and  claustrophobic  Last  Rites.  Jonathan  Fitoussi’s  airy,  minimalistic  Cercles  Polaires  brings  the  respite  of  his  recent  Versatile  Espaces  Timbrés  LP  (a  collaboration  with  Clemens  Hourrières):  “I  met  him  at  Xavier  Veilhan’s  Studio  Venezia  at  the  Venice  Biennale.  He’s  a  great  guy,  and  his  universe  is  unique,”  says  Chloé.  Benedikt  Frey’s  deep  techno  track  Iaon,  is  on  par  with  his  smash  2017  album,  Artificial,  out  on  ESP  Institute.    First-timers  are  also  part  of  the  recruits:  Bajram  Bili  with  the  ten  cerebral  minutes  of  Restart,  Théo  Muller  with  the  ultra-deep  Douce  Transe,  and  Lumi,  a  Basque  band  that  fuses  electronic  sounds  with  acoustic  instruments,  brings  the  compilation  to  a  close  with  a  track  commissioned  by  Chloé,  who  met  them  at  a  festival.  These  audacious  choices  are  anchored  down  with  the  likes  of  Permanent  Vacation  pioneer  Lauer’s  hooky,  80s-infused  Pythor  (“Just  like  him,  I  was  a  resident  of  the  Robert  Johnson,  and  he  was  a  guest  of  mine  at  one  of  my  Lumière  Noire  nights  at  the  Rex.  He  is  one  of  these  people  whose  music  I  highly  appreciate);  Aergeworc  &  Franck  Agrario,  half  of  English  duo  Swayzak  David  Brown’s  project,  weaves  an  ethno*  mood  into  Grace’s  techno.  Bringing  together  different  generations,  genres,  and  styles?  That  may  not  necessarily  be  Chloé’s  MO.  She  invokes  a  more  arbitrary,  personal  logic:  “I  like  to  mix  of-the-moment  tracks  and  more  timeless  one,  but  the  rule  is  above  all  ‘do  I  love  this  or  not?’.  That  was  my  ethos  when  I  started  Lumière  Noire.”  In  that  way,  the  label  is  definitely  in  keeping  with  its  time...

VARIOUS ARTISTS LUMIERE NOIRE

Benedikt Frey - Iaon

Based in Paris, Lumière Noire is a creative entity founded by Chloé pitched somewhere between a record label and a club night.

if you wish to share some demos, please send to:
contact@lumierenoirerecords.com

Benedikt Frey - Iaon

Lumière Noire Records