BETHESDA

Megaphone present the first vinyl issue of Silvain Vanot's Bethesda, originally released in 2009. From 1993 to 2002, French recording artist, Silvain Vanot released five albums on Virgin Disques and was blessed with critical praise and a faithful following. Singing in French, yet influenced by Americana, British pop, and Caribbean rhythms, collaborating with Jim O'Rourke, Marc Ribot, and Tanya Donelly, recording in Nashville and New York, opening for Sonic Youth, Silvain never was your typical chanteur. Together Megaphone's Stephane Bismuth and Silvain gathered in Bethesda (Wales) an unorthodox assemblage of talents: Canterbury legend John Greaves (Henry Cow) on bass and keyboards, special guest BJ Cole on pedal steel guitar, Iain Templeton of Shack fame on drums, fellow colleague Renaud Gabriel Pion (John Cale, Hector Zazou) on bass clarinet, and flute, engineer Steve Powell (The Stairs, Michael Head & The Strands, Ella Guru) behind the desk and, of course, Silvain himself on guitars, harp, and a few other things. In one week they recorded eleven songs of lost love and wit, surrounded by snowy mountains and frozen lakes, sharing mutual tastes for silly jokes, improvisation, and absinthe (though not necessarily in that order). From the opening notes of O' Mon Tour, a country waltz with a discreet southern soul flavor to the soft eastern psychedelia of Les Fleurs, via Nature Boy (E'trange Garc'on), a French sailor take on Eden Ahbez's classic, Silvain takes you on the most unexpected voyage to Bethesda, a place which in Hebrew means House of Grace. 180 gram vinyl. Includes one bonus track on the LP. Includes a digital download card with an additional bonus track. Includes a booklet and postcard enclosed with lyrics. - A1. O' Mon Tour?A2. Un Pied Derrie're?A3. Les Cloches De L'amour?A4. Hawaii?A5. Rivie're?A6. C'est Affaire?B1. Le Mouton A' Trois Te'tes?B2. Nature Boy (E'trange Garc'on)?B3. Bambi Blanc/Fore't Noire?B4. Bois Flottant?B5. Implacable?B6. Les Fleurs