Long-time collaborators include trumpeter Mark Isham; guitarist Lone Kent; cellist and singer Caroline Lavelle; trumpeter Christian Lechevretel, who has appeared on all of Zazou's albums after Sahara Blue; clarinetist and flutist Renaud Pion, who has appeared on all of Zazou's albums since Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses; drummer Bill Rieflin; and Japanese recording artist Ryuichi Sakamoto.
His discography demonstrates his affinity for cross-cultural collaborations, and incorporating modern techniques and sounds in re-recordings of traditional material. He was influenced by Peter Gabriel's album Passion in his fusion of musical polarities (traditional and modern, electronic and acoustic) on his own album Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses.
Zazou regards his work during the 1980s as his time of apprenticeship in the studio. On his 1986 album, Reivax au Bongo, he experimented with fusing classical vocals with an electronic backdrop. On his 1989 album, Géologies, he combined electronic music with a string quartet.
The albums that he has released under his own name from the 1990s onwards are usually concept albums that draw from literary or folk sources and revolve around a specific theme. The collection of songs on each album assemble contributions from a diverse and global range of pop, folk, world music, avant-garde, and classical recording acts.
Zazou's 1992 offering, Sahara Blue, was based on an idea by Jacques Pasquier. Pasquier suggested Zazou commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of author Arthur Rimbaud by setting music to Rimbaud's poetry. Contributions included spoken word from Gérard Depardieu, and music by Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerard of Dead Can Dance, Tim Simenon, and David Sylvian. He even adapted a traditional Ethiopian song.
In 1994, he released the album Chansons des mers froides (called "Songs from the Cold Seas" for the anglophone market). The album was based on ocean-themed traditional folk songs from northern countries, such as Canada, Finland, Iceland, and Japan. It featured vocals by pop and rock artists such as Björk, Suzanne Vega, John Cale, Värttina, Jane Siberry, and Siouxsie Sioux in addition to recordings of shamanic incantations and lullabies from Ainu, Nanai, Inuit, and Yakut singers. Musicians included Mark Isham, Brendan Perry, and the Balanescu Quartet. A cameraman accompanied Zazou on the project and they shot and recorded in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Japan, Scandinavia, and Siberia. The single "The Long Voyage" was the only song to be an original composition from Zazou. He wrote it in gratitude to his record company Sony who gave him complete artistic liberty.
His 1998 album, Lights in the Dark, showcased ancient Celtic music sung by Irish singers.
Zazou's collaborative 2000 album 12 (Las Vegas is Cursed) with Sandy Dillon was regarded as a financial and critical failure. In the book "Sonora Portraits 2", which accompanies the CD Strong Currents, Zazou says that 12 (Las Vegas is Cursed) was his most elaborate album. He describes it as a work of black humour and regards his instrumental composition "Sombre" on the album as one of his best songs ever.
Strong Currents was released in 2003 and featured an all-female vocal cast which included Laurie Anderson, Melanie Gabriel, Lori Carson, Lisa Germano, Irene Grandi, Jane Birkin, and Caroline Lavelle. Musicians included Ryuichi Sakamoto and Archaea Strings. The album took six years to complete.
In 2004 Zazou released a companion CD of sorts, L'absence, which included instrumentals, many of the same female vocalists that were featured on Strong Currents, and one male vocalist, French singer Edo.
Zazou has recently been a member of the musical collective named Slow Music. The line-up also included Robert Fripp and Peter Buck on guitars, Fred Chalenor on bass, Matt Chamberlain on drums, and Bill Rieflin on keyboards and percussion. He contributed electronics to the group's music, and much of his recent work, including a soundtrack for Carl Théodor Dreyer's silent film La Passion de Jeanne d’Arc and the multimedia collaboration released as a CD in 2006, Quadri+Chromies, has focused on electronic sounds produced on computers.
A number of recent projects are documented on the Music Operator interactive multimedia web site (www.musicoperator.com), which graphically documents his recent collaborations while in the background his recent music plays. In january 2008 Hector Zazou released his newest album, Corps électriques, featuring "one of the original riot grrrls" KatieJane Garside, Bill Rieflin, Lone Kent and fusion jazz trumpeter Nils Petter Molvær.
Hector Zazou died on the 8th of September 2008 at the age of 60 in a hospital in Paris after serious illness.
Lettre au Directeur des Messageries Maritimes
Hector Zazou Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
UN LOT : UNE DENTSEULE.
UN LOT : DEUX DENTS.
UN LOT : TROIS DENTS.
UN LOT : QUATRE DENTS.
UN LOT : DEUX DENTS.
Monsieur le Directeur,
Je viens vous demander si je n'ai rien laissé à votre compte. Je désire changer aujourd'hui de ce service-ci, dont je ne connais même pas le nom, mais en tout cas que ce soit le service d'Aphinar. Tous ces services sont là partout, et moi, impotent, malheureux, je ne peux rien trouver, le premier chien dans la rue vous dira cela.
Envoyez-moi donc le prix des services d'Aphinar à Suez. Je suis complètement paralysé: donc je désire me trouver de bonne heure à bord. Dites-moi à quelle heure je dois être transporté à bord.
* * * *
The Crux
the stone
the heart
the hearth
the home
Blinded
In search of stars
Thereness
Nearly
Vastly invisible
unsensed, unseen
troubled and troubling
Nothing
A coat
A hood
The hooded I
Under a tallow moon.
The song Lettre au Directeur des Messageries Maritimes by Hector Zazou is a fascinating piece that requires a detailed interpretation of its lyrics. The song takes its title from a letter written by a desperate man to the head of a shipping company. The man is seeking passage on a ship bound for Aphinar from Suez, and he has sent the letter to inquire about his account balance with the company. However, his language and mannerisms suggest that he may be suffering from some form of mental or emotional instability.
The first section of the song seems to be a verbatim recitation of the man's letter, written on November 9, 1891. The tone of the letter is very formal and almost sarcastic, with the man making pointed references to his disability and lack of resources. He seems to be struggling to find his place in the world and believes that the shipping company holds the key to his future. However, his desperation and anxiety permeate his words, and the reader gets the impression that he is not entirely rational.
The second part of the song is a complete departure from the letter, diving into a poetic and philosophical exploration of existence. The lyrics seem to suggest that the author is contemplating the mysteries of the universe and the meaning of life itself. He speaks of the "crux," the "stone," and the "heart" as symbols of the human condition, and then turns to the night sky in search of answers. However, he finds only darkness and confusion, and the final lines of the song suggest a sense of isolation and despair.
Overall, Hector Zazou's Lettre au Directeur des Messageries Maritimes is a complex and multi-layered work that offers many possible interpretations. It is a haunting and evocative piece of music that invites repeated listening and careful examination.
Line by Line Meaning
UN LOT : UNE DENTSEULE.
One lot: one tooth.
UN LOT : DEUX DENTS.
One lot: two teeth.
UN LOT : TROIS DENTS.
One lot: three teeth.
UN LOT : QUATRE DENTS.
One lot: four teeth.
UN LOT : DEUX DENTS.
One lot: two teeth.
Monsieur le Directeur,
Mr. Director,
Je viens vous demander si je n'ai rien laissé à votre compte.
I would like to ask if I have left anything on my account.
Je désire changer aujourd'hui de ce service-ci, dont je ne connais même pas le nom, mais en tout cas que ce soit le service d'Aphinar.
I want to change today from this service, whose name I do not even know, but in any case it should be the service of Aphinar.
Tous ces services sont là partout, et moi, impotent, malheureux, je ne peux rien trouver, le premier chien dans la rue vous dira cela.
All these services are everywhere, and I, helpless and unhappy, cannot find anything, the first dog in the street will tell you that.
Envoyez-moi donc le prix des services d'Aphinar à Suez.
Therefore, send me the price of Aphinar's services to Suez.
Je suis complètement paralysé: donc je désire me trouver de bonne heure à bord.
I am completely paralyzed, so I want to be on board early.
Dites-moi à quelle heure je dois être transporté à bord.
Please tell me the time I must be transported on board.
The Crux
The crucial point of the matter.
the stone
The inanimate object.
the heart
The emotional center.
the hearth
The warmth and comfort of home.
the home
The dwelling place.
Blinded
Unable to see.
In search of stars
Looking for something beyond reach.
Thereness
The state of existing in a place.
Nearly
Almost, but not quite.
Vastly invisible
Hugely unseen.
unsensed, unseen
Not perceived by any of the senses.
troubled and troubling
Causing or experiencing problems.
Nothing
The absence of anything.
A coat
A piece of outerwear.
A hood
A head covering.
The hooded I
I am the one wearing the hood.
Under a tallow moon.
In the presence of a dim, waxy moon.
Contributed by Luke C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@advanhattem8747
Jean Nicolas Arthur Rimbaud(1854-1891), remains one of the greatest
French poets of all time. His influencial poetry and prose was written
between the age of 15 and 20. On monday, november 9th 1891, while
dying of bone cancer in a hospital in Marseille, he dictated his last
letter to his sister Isabelle, adressed to the director of the "Messageries
Maritimes": "Please let me know the cost of passage from Aphinar to
Suez. I am completely paralyzed, and so I am anxious to be on board
early. Please tell me at what time I must be carried on board...".
So, only the final text belongs to David Sylvian. Rimbaud's last letter
(voice: Richard Bohringer/ vocals: Sussan Deihim) dominates this haunting song.
@catherinechi6730
many thanks for uploading this beautiful song and Zazou's great music. I've lost my CD when I moved & settled my flat. The good old days in 90's. I've learnt French bcoz of Rimbaud, I'm really overwhelmed by his poems, his words. Such a greatly talented Zazou, is bringing world music & well infused with syn music to us. Once again, thank u.
@TheAumadera
maybe the best poem ever turned into music touching "Je ne peut rien trouver , le premier chien dans la rue vous dira cela"
@nerolux2445
Atmosfera unica.
@stevanbg66
This record showed up in 1992 I think on Made To Measure label as one of the Last. I was 26 years old then and world was a better place for a little. Some time after, appeared another very good record Hector Zazou/Harold Budd with red roses on front (Glyph?). Not to forgot Other Zazou records from this series: Geographies, Reviaux au Bongo, Geologies (masterpiece) and one with Bikaye. But I never found good mp3 of his earlier band ZNR and at least LP "Barricade"... Best wishes from Belgrade
@DjordjeSokolovski
Barricade 3, I own that LP :)
@stevanbg66
one of best records from 90'. Of course not for average listener
@stevanbg66
GUTS - Aimer sans Amour (remindes me of this song). Hot and cold at the same time and, of course with French talkin that fits perfect in song....
@advanhattem8747
Jean Nicolas Arthur Rimbaud(1854-1891), remains one of the greatest
French poets of all time. His influencial poetry and prose was written
between the age of 15 and 20. On monday, november 9th 1891, while
dying of bone cancer in a hospital in Marseille, he dictated his last
letter to his sister Isabelle, adressed to the director of the "Messageries
Maritimes": "Please let me know the cost of passage from Aphinar to
Suez. I am completely paralyzed, and so I am anxious to be on board
early. Please tell me at what time I must be carried on board...".
So, only the final text belongs to David Sylvian. Rimbaud's last letter
(voice: Richard Bohringer/ vocals: Sussan Deihim) dominates this haunting song.
@cerojase
@stevanbg66 sadly, but youre right, more people should listent to it
@krokokanski
Actually, this is the last Rimbaud's letter, before his death, performed here by the great actor Depardieu