search for something...

search for something you might like...

His Darc Materials  Ten years on from his death, 'Couer Sacre' is a beautiful tribute to Daniel Darc.

His Darc Materials

Ten years on from his death, 'Couer Sacre' is a beautiful tribute to Daniel Darc.

by Jay Lewis, Reviews Editor
first published: November, 2023

approximate reading time: minutes

This album has been created and assembled with such love for Darc, a love that can be heard in the many voices paying tribute.

Daniel Darc and Frédéric Lo
Coeur Sacré - un hommage de Frédéric Lo à Daniel Darc
(Water Music)
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite_border


I have spent many hours poring over the lyrics of the great Daniel Darc, trying to translate them from their original French to English. Even though I hardly understood a word I knew that, from the delivery, the person singing had many, many tales to tell. I also knew that, even without a translator, very few of those tales seemed to be happy ones. Darc, as the posthumous documentary 'Pieces of My Life' showed, was a complex character who succumbed to excesses, and was outspoken but highly sensitive too. 

I first heard Darc way back in the late 80s on the album he made with Bill Pritchard ('Parce Qué'), then traced his story back to the post-punk delights of his days with Taxi Girl, waited through a mostly absent 90s until he resurfaced early this millennium, having been dragged out of his wilderness and away from his immense demons with some help from composer, producer and co-writer and, one imagines, friend Frédéric Lo.  Amongst the records they made together, I would single out the dark thoughts and elegant arrangements of the album 'Crèvecouer' (2004)are some of the finest and most fragile pieces Darc was involved in. Several of the songs on that album have been reinterpreted on this heartfelt tribute album.

Darc died ten years ago, at the tragically young age of 53. To commemorate this sad anniversary, Lo has assembled a fine cast of artists to cover some of Darc's finest songs. Étienne Daho, Jane Birkin, Jean Jacques Burnel, Bill Pritchard, and Pete Doherty are amongst the vocalists working with Lo on these new recordings.

Daho's refined take on Taxi Girl's 'Je Suis Deja Parti' is striking whilst Bill Pritchard's English reading of 'Je Me Souviens, Je Me Rappelle' ('I Remember Oh So Well') is a gently delivered tale of succumbing to someone's deception.  Another English song 'Without Use & All Used Up' shows Pete Doherty in his most reflective mood (now a resident in France, he's also recorded an album with Lo), whilst Stupeflip brings their hip hop stylings to Taxi Girl's 'Paris' - it's a joy. The only misfire may be 'La Plui Qui Tombe' which despite Lo's hypnotic new arrangement is somehow undermined by Jean-Jacques Burnel's low murmuring.


In addition to the many great cover versions, there is also a new song 'Couer Sacré' - and although we've probably all had our fill of rediscovered recordings by dead songwriters that have been worked up into something new, this is actually rather special (even though the intro does remind me of 'Betty Davis Eyes').
But most touching of all is the album's closer 'Jamais Jamais' - a desolate recording of one of Darc's most haunting lyrics.  Like the final works of Leonard Cohen, it is unnervingly intimate. 

'Couer Sacré' will act as a reminder of the great work of a brave and troubled artist. It has been created and assembled with such love for Darc, a love that you can hear in the various voices paying tribute. And if you happen to be unaware of Darc's songwriting, this is a magnificent introduction.

Jay Lewis
Reviews Editor

Jay Lewis is a Birmingham based poet. He's also a music, movie and arts obsessive. Jay's encyclopedic knowledge of 80s/90s Arts films is a debt to his embedded status in the Triangle Arts Centre trenches back then.


about Jay Lewis »»

Pete Williams web banner

RECENT STORIES

RANDOM READS

All About and Contributors

HELP OUTSIDELEFT

Outsideleft exists on a precarious no budget budget. We are interested in hearing from deep and deeper pocket types willing to underwrite our cultural vulture activity. We're not so interested in plastering your product all over our stories, but something more subtle and dignified for all parties concerned. Contact us and let's talk. [HELP OUTSIDELEFT]

WRITE FOR OUTSIDELEFT

If Outsideleft had arms they would always be wide open and welcoming to new writers and new ideas. If you've got something to say, something a small dank corner of the world needs to know about, a poem to publish, a book review, a short story, if you love music or the arts or anything else, write something about it and send it along. Of course we don't have anything as conformist as a budget here. But we'd love to see what you can do. Write for Outsideleft, do. [SUBMISSIONS FORM HERE]

WRITERS thru' the Years

Agata Makiela, Alan Devey, Alan Rider, Alex V. Cook, Ancient Champion, Andy Allison, Annemiek, Becca Kelly, Belle Plankton, Bruce Bailey, Caiomhin Millar, Cassie Thomas, Chantal, Cheiron Coelho, Chris Connolly, Christian Present, Damon Hayhurst, Dan Breen, Danny Rose, David Hackney, David O'Byrne, Denni Boyd, Dirty Lillie, DJ Fuzzyfelt, Dr. Rich, Dr. Richard Bennett, Duncan Jones, Erin, Erin Pipes, Erin Scott, Gracey Babs, Graham Baker, Guilaine Arts, H.xx, Hamilton High, Henderson Downing, Holly Martins, J. Charreaux, J.Lee, Jay Lewis, Jaycentee, Jennifer Lynn, Jenny McCann, Jeremy Gluck, Jez Collins, Joe Ambrose, John Robinson, Jonathan Thornton, Julie O, Karl Morgan, Katherine Pargeter, Kelsey Osgood, Kevin McHugh, Kiah Cranston, Kleo Kay, Lake, Lee Paul, Luke Skinner, Malcolm, Marek Pytel, Mark Piggott, Martin Devenney, Meave Haughey, Michelle Williams, Mike Fox, mindy strouse, Neil Campbell, Neil Scott, Ogglypoogly, OL House Writer, Pam, Paul Burns, Paul Hawkins, Paul Mortimer, Paul Quigley, Peter Williams, Pixie McMowat, Pixievic, Rene Williams, Richard John Walker, Rick Casson, Rikki Stein, Ronan Crinion, Rowena Murphy, Ruby Lake, Ryan 'RJO' Stewart, Samantha Charles, Seth Sherwood, Shane O'Reilly, Sheridan Coyle, Sofia Ribeiro Willcox, Sophia Satchell-Baeza, Spanish Pantalones, Speedie John, Spencer Kansa, Steve McCarthy, The Conversation, Tim London, Tim Sparks, Tony Fletcher, Toon Traveller, Trevi, Urs Lerch, Wayne Dean-Richards, and founders, Alarcon & Lamontpaul

OUTSIDELEFT UNIVERSE

Last Night of the LTB Showrooms
OUTSIDELEFT Night Out
weekend

outsideleft content is not for everyone