REFLECT[ING]
originally published on hunterspencer.co, May 4, 2021
In 2016, social media searches for some of my favorite French house music (then just a burgeoning interest) led me to a profile showcasing the immense vinyl collection of Laurent Brett, a Parisian title designer more than 30 years my senior. A shared love of music cultivated a sort of intercontinental, intergenerational camaraderie between us.
In 2018, Laurent began sharing with me snippets and ideas he had for a musical project called REDONDANCE, a sort of tribute to the 80s darkwave of his youth and the 90s techno of his young adulthood. This would mark his return to music after nearly two decades, and my young American ears were the perfect place to bounce off “extraits” and get feedback.
The centerpiece of the REDONDANCE project was a brooding atmospheric album called REFLECTION[S]. It was surreal hearing music who’s drafts I’d become all too familiar with now playing on a spinning vinyl record shipped to me all the way from across the Atlantic. And it was beyond touching to see my name within the attributions, immortalized on an inner sleeve.
Then came the EPs, one for each of the album’s tracks. I like to think my influence shows through in all of them, but just four bear my name directly in the form of remixes.
It is now 2021, and the last of these EPs has just been released last month (featuring a remix by me). To mark the conclusion of the REFLECTION[S] journey, Laurent crafted one of his gorgeous titles to impart some “merci” upon the various collaborators. I must admit, seeing my name there is bittersweet.
It’s been quite a ride. Laurent informed me recently that no other collaborator has appeared on REFLECTION[S] releases more than myself, which is astounding. I’m immensely grateful to him for giving me the chance to be a part of this project.
But to me, the completion of this project is just another testament to the power art and music have to unite people across ages, across borders, across languages. Laurent and I lead vastly different lives, but through this shared love for music, we can communicate without words.
And that’s really what it’s all about.
In 2018, Laurent began sharing with me snippets and ideas he had for a musical project called REDONDANCE, a sort of tribute to the 80s darkwave of his youth and the 90s techno of his young adulthood. This would mark his return to music after nearly two decades, and my young American ears were the perfect place to bounce off “extraits” and get feedback.
The centerpiece of the REDONDANCE project was a brooding atmospheric album called REFLECTION[S]. It was surreal hearing music who’s drafts I’d become all too familiar with now playing on a spinning vinyl record shipped to me all the way from across the Atlantic. And it was beyond touching to see my name within the attributions, immortalized on an inner sleeve.
Then came the EPs, one for each of the album’s tracks. I like to think my influence shows through in all of them, but just four bear my name directly in the form of remixes.
It is now 2021, and the last of these EPs has just been released last month (featuring a remix by me). To mark the conclusion of the REFLECTION[S] journey, Laurent crafted one of his gorgeous titles to impart some “merci” upon the various collaborators. I must admit, seeing my name there is bittersweet.
It’s been quite a ride. Laurent informed me recently that no other collaborator has appeared on REFLECTION[S] releases more than myself, which is astounding. I’m immensely grateful to him for giving me the chance to be a part of this project.
But to me, the completion of this project is just another testament to the power art and music have to unite people across ages, across borders, across languages. Laurent and I lead vastly different lives, but through this shared love for music, we can communicate without words.
And that’s really what it’s all about.