Précis (album)

Précis
Studio album by Benoit Pioulard
Released October 16, 2006
Recorded 2005-2006
Genre Electronic
Ambient
Folk
Shoegazing
Length 37:02
Label Kranky
Professional reviews

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Benoit Pioulard chronology
Dakota / Housecoat
(2006)		 Précis
(2006)		 Temper
(2008)

Précis is the debut full-length album by Portland, Oregon based musician Benoit Pioulard, released by Kranky on October 16, 2006.

Contents

Background

Before the release of this album, Pioulard (born Thomas Meluch) already had a fairly substantial discography. This included many self-released albums on CD-R and cassette, as well as the 7" EP Enge, which was put out by Moodgadget in 2005. He later signed a deal with Chicago label Kranky, from which this album was released.

Hand-made version

An elaborate handmade version of this album was released through his Myspace profile in September 2006.

Limited to only 25 copies, this edition had exclusive content not available on the standard release and due to high demand sold out rapidly.

Critical Reaction

Précis was generally very well-received by critics. Stylus Magazine was one of the first publications to review the album, remarking:

Précis is a spectacular, fully realized debut...a breathtaking sonic landscape that sounds like nothing else you’ll hear this year. Rating: A

Allmusic, who named Pioulard a "Hot Artist" in December 2006, were also impressed with the album, saying:

Précis is a remarkably concise album -- over the course of 37 minutes, Pioulard covers an impressive range of sounds and feelings. More importantly, though, it's also a remarkably accomplished debut: hazy without disappearing into the background, immediately captivating but still full of things to discover on later listens.

For other reviews of this album, see external links.

Track listing

  1. "La Guerre de Sept Ans" – 3:08
  2. "Together & Down" – 3:07
  3. "Ext. Leslie Park" – 2:42
  4. "Triggering Back" – 2:30
  5. "Moth Wings" – 1:16
  6. "Alan & Dawn" – 2:50
  7. "Corpus Chant" – 1:43
  8. "Palimend" – 3:04
  9. "Coup de Foudre" – 1:31
  10. "Hirondelle" – 2:22
  11. "Needle & Thread" – 2:42
  12. "R Coloring" – 0:39
  13. "Sous la Plage" – 2:59
  14. "Patter" – 2:58
  15. "Ash into the Sky" – 3:18

Credits

Music videos

On December 6, 2006 a video for Triggering Back was released. It was directed by Adam Hunt and was posted on both Pioulard's Myspace profile and his official website.

Themes in the video generally revolve around photography and nature. It shows Pioulard travelling around various locations and taking Polaroid photographs of his surroundings, which then fall to the ground. Featuring a mixture of close-up shots and distant views, it is a hazy, almost dreamlike video that seems to fit with the style of the song and its ephemeric lyrical focus.

View the video in QuickTime format here

External links