Confection
Apart from one song, « Confection » is an entirely instrumental piece that Sébastien conceived like a motion picture score. Several romantic musical themes are showcased in different versions, orchestral or acoustic. Their sequence brings the listener on a succession of subtle climaxes, creating powerful emotions and leaving room for fantazised images. The recording session of « Sessions » was definitely old-school, as decided by the maestro. The very team which helped Tellier create his cult classic song « La Ritournelle » 7 years ago was reunited for the occasion: Tony Allen, of Fela fame, on drums, Rob, keyboardist for Phoenix, Emmanuel d'Orlando on string arrangements, and Philippe Zdar mixed the record. He is also responsible for mixing albums for Phoenix, Cat Power, Beastie Boys, or Kindness and part of Cassius. The album artwork and « L’amour naissant » video are from Jean-Baptiste Mondino. « Confection » is an album as close as possible to Tellier's soul, a testimony of his deep musical skills. it showcases his outstanding composer talent as rarely before, reminding of his early albums such as « L'incroyable vérité » or « Politics ». « Confection » is a love letter for a film that doesn't exist yet...
Sébastien Tellier is still best known in the States as the louche, besunglassed Frenchman whose 2008 album Sexuality layered the electro-disco sound that was big in Paris at the time. His new Confection is a similarly decadent experience.
Even though the music is intoxicating, you can't help but feel slightly left in the dark by Tellier's latest.
The word "confection" could easily describe Sébastien Tellier's entire musical approach: along with other acts with French roots such as Air and Stereolab, Tellier excels at capturing and modernizing the most romantic and dramatic moments of late-'60s and early-'70s instrumental pop as well as making its kitschier moments sound stylish.
France’s Sebastien Tellier has always been a difficult figure to pin down. Having worked with Daft Punk, Mr Oizo and the legendary Nigerian drummer Tony Allen (who reappears here), Tellier is a respected figure in the French electronica scene; on the other hand, he’s a one-time Eurovision contestant whose compositions can seem kitsch and superficial.
Never a man to play things by the book, dream-pop iconoclast Sébastien Tellier has created a sixth album that is an almost entirely instrumental affair.