Paris Obscure – “desperately tragic and unnecessary event” Music Review “hommage aux victimes”

The whole experience of listening to something that someone has made as a result of such desperately tragic and unnecessary event, is one that is likely to conjure up a number of emotions and memories, regardless of the nature of the music itself. When you do manage to really listen though, this song appears to be the artist’s direct reaction and immediate feelings regarding the incident, almost in the form of free flowing thought – a stream of consciousness, unedited, untampered with; just real. Alongside this, the music has an overwhelming level of intensity to it. The piano chords used are simple, but the way in which they’ve been played – recorded, programmed – adds a huge amount of emotion and atmosphere to the music.

The sounds that have been used here throughout are fairly simple, but they too build in intensity as the song progresses, and when you listen to the voice – which is, for the most part, calm, reflective, spoken word, almost like poetry over a musical backdrop – the elements come together to present this track as a whole and single piece of art. The art that came from the tragedy is, I suppose, an art we’d rather not have had to create, but nevertheless – music is a voice that can speak to anyone. The universal language that we all can understand and appreciate. This musical poetry, as it were, is effective in recapturing those feelings and memories, and reminding us of the things that have passed. Reminding us also, I suppose, to appreciate things as they are, while they are.

Stylistically, this track is unique, and the way the music builds up around the hypnotically calm vocal performance is quite captivating. You can’t help but listen and wait for every line and every thought. To consider it as art with a purpose is a better way to see the real meaning of it’s sound and it’s expression.

By Rebecca Cullen