Jean-Loup Pinson – A Moment of Deathlessness (2024)
Jean-Loup Pinson’s latest release, A Moment of Deathlessness, is a genre-defying masterpiece that melds the ethereal beauty of choral music with the raw immediacy of hip-hop and electronic beats. Inspired by Emily Dickinson’s poetry, this EP is a sonic journey that traverses centuries, bridging the timeless themes of mortality, truth, and desire with a fresh, contemporary edge.
From the opening track, listeners are plunged into an intricate soundscape where the soaring harmonies of The Carice Singers wrap around Pinson’s carefully layered compositions. The choir’s crystal-clear delivery of Dickinson’s evocative lines is nothing short of spellbinding, capturing the poet’s meditative intensity. Yet the EP’s true innovation lies in its juxtaposition with contributions from London-based hip-hop artists Armanious and Tanaka Fuego. Their spoken-word performances bring a stark, modern urgency to Dickinson’s themes, offering vivid, streetwise interpretations that feel deeply personal and immediate.
The standout track, ‘Tell The Truth \ Surrender’, exemplifies this fusion. A haunting choral arrangement gives way to a pulsating electronic beat, over which Tanaka Fuego delivers a searing monologue about resilience and vulnerability in the face of existential truths. Meanwhile, ‘I Am Afraid To Own A Body’, with The Carice Singers intimate verses, delves into the complexities of longing, set against shimmering electronic textures that build to a cathartic crescendo.
Pinson’s production is meticulous, balancing the grandeur of the choir with the grit of spoken word and the dynamic pulse of electronic elements. Each track feels like a carefully constructed dialogue between the past and present, the classical and the contemporary. The result is an album that doesn’t merely pay homage to Dickinson but reimagines her work for the modern ear.
The EP is not without risks – some listeners may find the shifts between styles jarring. However, for those open to its daring vision, A Moment of Deathlessness offers an exhilarating and deeply emotional listening experience. Pinson’s ability to push the boundaries of genre while maintaining a coherent artistic vision is a testament to his skill as a composer and producer.
This is an album that demands to be heard in its entirety, not just for its bold experimentation but for its ability to make Emily Dickinson’s poetry resonate in wholly unexpected ways. With A Moment of Deathlessness, Pinson has crafted a work of art that lingers long after the final note fades.
Find out more about Jean-Loup Pinson on his Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
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