Alcest (/al.sɛst/) is a French blackgaze act formed in Bagnols-sur-Cèze, Oc… Read Full Bio ↴Alcest (/al.sɛst/) is a French blackgaze act formed in Bagnols-sur-Cèze, Occitanie in 2000 by multi-instrumentalist Neige (Stéphane Paut).

It was originally conceived as a solo project, though it would eventually take on the form of a full band as Aegnor (now known as La Sale Famine de Valfunde) and Argoth, with whom Neige played in Peste Noire, joined the fray and released a four-track demo entitled Tristesse hivernale in 2001. This demo was a more straightforward black metal affair, much different from what would happen next. After that released, Alcest returned to a one-member format, with Neige moving away from the metal overtones of the three-piece and embracing a more atmospheric approach to his work.

The 2005 EP release, Le Secret, was more in tune with the project’s ultimate goal, which was to put to ear, as it were, Neige’s fascination with an “otherworld”—of sorts—that had held a fascination for him beginning in his childhood. In 2007, Neige released the first full-length Alcest recording, Souvenirs d'un autre monde, which was released on Prophecy Productions, and was a critical success. Écailles de lune, released in 2010, continues in the otherwordly vein, evoking images of an underwater realm.

The band’s third album, Les Voyages de l'âme, was released on January 6, 2012.

Alcest’s fourth effort entitled Shelter was released on January 17, 2014 via Prophecy Productions. It features Birgir Jón Birgisson as producer, Amiina for the string sections and a guest appearance by Neil Halstead. This album is completely different to any previous Alcest works, and can be described as shoegaze/dream pop.

In 2016 with Kodama, they’re back with their heavier sound, while taking on a concept about “the confrontation of the natural world and the human world”.

2019 brings Spritual Instinct, released this time by Nuclear Blast Records. As Neige said, “It is a very cathartic record—something needed to get out of me. It’s darker than usual, and heavier.”

ᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀs
Neige (Stéphane Paut) — vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards (2000–present), drums (2000–2009)Winterhalter (Jean Deflandre) — drums (2009–present)Zero (Pierre Corson) — guitars, backing vocals (2010–present; live only) Indria Saray — bass (2010–present; live only)

ᴍᴀᴊᴏʀ ʀᴇʟᴇᴀsᴇs
Tristesse hivernale (demo EP, 2001, Drakkar Productions)Le Secret (EP, 2005, Drakkar Productions)Souvenirs d'un autre monde (LP, 2007, Prophecy Productions)Écailles de lune (LP, 2010, Prophecy Productions)Les Voyages de l'âme (LP, 2012, Prophecy Productions)Shelter (LP, 2014, Prophecy Productions)Kodama (LP, 2016, Prophecy Productions)Spiritual Instinct (LP, 2019, Nuclear Blast)

Shelter
Alcest Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

J'attends toujours ce moment
Où peu à peu s'efface le jour
Pour rejoindre les eaux calmes
Disparaître loin de chez moi

Mon coeur appartient à la mer
Je voudrais parfois que l'on m'oublie
Pour rejoindre les eaux calmes

Disparaitre

Je préfère aux vacarmes
D'ici-bas la quiétude
Que l'on trouve nageant
Dans le creux des vagues
Les refuges de la mer turquoise
Nous purifiant en ses bras

Mon coeur appartient à la mer
Je voudrais parfois que l'on m'oublie

Pour rejoindre les eaux calmes
Retourner d'où je viens

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Alcest's song "Shelter" describe a longing to escape the noise and chaos of everyday life and return to the peaceful embrace of the sea. The singer is waiting for the day to fade away, so they can join the calm waters and disappear far from home. The ocean holds a special place in the singer's heart, and they would sometimes like to be forgotten so they can return to its stillness. They prefer the tranquility found in the depths of the waves to the noise of the world. The turquoise refuge of the sea purifies them in its embrace. The singer's heart belongs to the sea, and they wish to forget the noise of the world and return to the calm waters once again.

Line by Line Meaning

J'attends toujours ce moment
I am always waiting for that moment

Où peu à peu s'efface le jour
When slowly the day fades away

Pour rejoindre les eaux calmes
To join the calm waters

Disparaître loin de chez moi
Disappear far away from home

Mon coeur appartient à la mer
My heart belongs to the sea

Je voudrais parfois que l'on m'oublie
I sometimes wish to be forgotten

Je préfère aux vacarmes
I prefer over the noise

D'ici-bas la quiétude
The peace down here

Que l'on trouve nageant
That we find while swimming

Dans le creux des vagues
In the hollow of the waves

Les refuges de la mer turquoise
The refuges of the turquoise sea