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The Beauty of Lost Causes

by Emilie Roulet & Michael Frei

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1.
Elle a dansé dans la brume Au son des bises glacées Et des bateaux qui s’inclinent On l’a vue brisée. Elle a armé dans la brume Au son des nuages filés Et des voiles qui trépignent On l’a vue portée. Elle a levé son enclume Au son des langueurs passées Des visages qui s’indignent On l’a vue pleurer.
2.
Hoover Dam 03:33
She jumped right off the Hoover Dam - Left a note sayin’ : « If If the world was but halfway grand, I wouldn’t have to jump that cliff… » She rose so high up in the sky - Just like a bird ‘d have flown « Oh, if the world was but halfway lies, I wouldn’t have to drop like stone… » « From up here I can see the city lights From here I can see the stars above In the stillness of this desert flight Impossibles are true – like – “love”… A body lay on this riverbed Her eyes a hollow blue – that said : « If the world was but halfway dead, We’d blink to see it through… » « From down here I can grasp the endless sky From here I’m the world and galaxy In the stillness of this desert night Impossibles are true – like – “We…” Oh the water fills these lungs with forgiveness- And resonates like prayer, cold and damp God bless the ones - still standing - God bless the ones –still standing on Hoover Dam… God bless the ones – still on… - on Hoover Dam…
3.
En chline Bueb wird stumm gebore S’isch fiischter, s’schmöckt nach Schnee En junge Maa hät s’Härz verlore Du, häsch es nieneds gseh? Es Meitli hät en Brief verbrännt Mit em Füürzüg, us em Buuch E jungi Frau hät alls verschänkt Drum hört Sie jetzt - Drum hört Sie jetzt grad uf… Wo chömed all die Geischter här Und wo sind mini Träum? Die hocked det mit starrem Blick Wie Mumie uf de Bäum Wo chömed all die Geischter här Und gönds no nöimeds hii? Oder wandereds blind im chalte Wald Und lueged hinderschi Und lueged hinderschi? En alte Maa luegt um sich ume s‘isch muffig i dr Stube Er wett es wär no öpper ume Doch er füettered nume d’Tuube En alti Frau luegt stolz derher Sie isch nomal bim Coiffeur gsii Doch s’Wägeli wird langsam z’schwär Die guete Ziite - Die guete Ziite sind verbii… Wo chömed all die Geischter här Und wo sind mini Träum? Die lached hohl und säged mir Was ich alles ha versäumt Wo chömed all die Geischter här Säg mer, bliibe die für immer? Ich hocke jetzt bi schwachem Liecht We ne Mumie uf em Zimmer... We ne Mumie uf mim Zimmer…
4.
Well, it’s rough, but the moths have been drinking, again But their somersaults seem tame And as all their hopes have been sinking, again It seems the right time to jump the flame. It seems the right time to jump the flame.
5.
Au Revoir 03:14
You came without warning You left without haste So sweet the illusion So bitter the taste Au revoir Mon amour Au revoir Mon amour * I mean, I don’t think we should – say goodbye * You sure brought the storm in But summer - as well You darkened my heaven Yet brightened my hell Au revoir Mon amour Au revoir Mon amour
6.
Ravine 02:30 video
Nobody knows the trouble we’ve seen But for our own Lord, over yonder We buried the first born Near the Ravine He swam in the lake and Went under. Nobody knows the trouble we’ve seen But for our own Lord, over yonder We buried the second Near the Ravine But bones on his cheeks From the hunger. The grief and the pocks and the shortness of breath Beneath those rocks our own valley of death Nobody knows the trouble we’ve seen The trouble we’ve seen… Nobody knows the trouble we’ve seen But for our own Lord, over yonder We’ve lit all our candles Near the Ravine If the third one’s to die We’ll go under.
7.
Give it Up 05:01
The elder lady took the train With her handbag & flowery scarf At the lone, deserted station Like a cowering, dwindling dwarf. Onto the clinic, breathing heavy The sun burnt scars into the ground Face down at the great, big table Sullen daughter made no sound. These long corridors at the hospital Longer hours scrubbing floors Sister Rosa wore a wooden cross Yet put shame upon the poor. And the hurt down in her belly Just like those arrows in the head Her legs had turned to jelly The mirror said: “You’re dead”. Oh, why don’t you give it up - Oh, why don’t you give it up Oh, why don’t you give it up - Oh, why don’t you…? On the train back to the village So many lonely, clinging farms When your spirit’s torn and pillaged Hope for blessings – count the harm. And, oh, Father came to get her In the carriage, brooding, tall No word there on the journey His back just like a wall. It’ll be easier It’ll be easier It’ll be easier Easier… Back at home and all is different November’s right before the door The pastor spouts forgiveness Yet puts shame upon the poor. And Baby’s in the corridor They say he has to leave She’ll curse this love forevermore If she sets her mind to grieve. Oh, why don’t you give it up Oh, why don’t you give it up Oh, why don’t you give it up Oh, why don’t you give it up Give it up! Give it up! Give it up!
8.
Oh, see my dove in this Blue Pristine How it does sing How it does sing You rise upon the evening air Oh Fly, my love Oh Fly, my love Move away The sky is clear Love is bliss But love is fear To hate one’s home Away you move… Away you move…
9.
Feel the light in It’ll bring you where Life is burning Shows you the way Shows you the way Feel the light in It’ll caress your bones Heal the distress Of infinite sorrows As we drive around In our ’67 Caravelle Oh, it seems we break the speed of sound A million times (at least in our dreams) Feel the light in It’ll soothe our bones Feel the caress Of these infinite meadows As we drive around – drive around In our ’67 Caravelle
10.
Wild Beast 04:31
It was not a specific moment that triggered it. It was not a particular chain of events that set the wheels in motion. She just looked up, one evening, and gazed into the fire. There seemed to be no point, no purpose to it all. So she stood up, put down her knitting, neatly folded her jacket and placed it on the chair. She wouldn’t need it anymore. She turned off the lights, opened the kitchen door and stepped outside. The air was cool and fresh and even the tiniest particles of dust tasted like cinnamon. She could see them reflecting in the moonlight. She nodded ever so slightly and took a few steps toward the river. She said to herself: It was not a specific moment that triggered it. It was not a particular chain of events that set the wheels in motion. She just knew. She took off her shoes and let the first gush of water gently wash over her feet She looked up into the moonlight and saw herself. She spread her arms, ever so slowly. She was a bird. She was a fish. She was a wild beast. She was a wild beast, She said to herself – And smiled.

about

Biography

Emilie Roulet & Michael Frei met in the well renowned Swiss band Hemlock Smith, in which they are still active and which has released more than ten records since 2002. Their main singer and songwriter Michael Frei needed a pianist in 2016 and met classically trained Emilie Roulet who was quite eager to discover a different world, not solely based upon scores and faithful interpretation. Their musical relationship has blossomed since then and they both write together and share their different points of view.
Michael has perfected the art of minimal songwriting, where only the necessary aspects are kept and the rest is discarded. Emilie’s world includes Satie, Debussy and Ravel, so both share this love of quiet pieces, of silence and space flowing through the compositions. And both have a passion for very quiet piano work!

The Album

During the second wave of the Pandemic, in the winter of 2020, Emilie lost all of her jobs as a professional musician and Michael was bored to death by home office. The decision was made to book two days in the studio, to experiment freely and try out several pieces for piano and vocals. The idea was to share songwriting duties to make room for two very distinct voices: a woman composer, whose songs are full of longing and the desire to break free from restraints and complicated relationships; and a slightly older folk singer, whose discreet storytelling and sober vocal style have been well regarded in his small home country. The lyrics are all very personal but sufficiently vague to leave a lot of room for interpretation. Their respective mother tongues (German and French) were used, to accompany their usual writing in English.

The Recording

With the surprising result of eight tracks recorded in only 36 hours, sound engineer Chris Diggelmann was then brought in to make sense of the material. The album was finished with the help of songwriter and arranger Fred Merk, who contributed the final tunes and added some delicate guitar work to the mix. It also features ambient soundscapes by good friends Sam Vaney, Philippe Simon (of Les Poissons Autistes) and Timothée Zurbuchen. It’s a quiet album, therefore, the general idea of accepted sadness, always permeated by a glimmer of hope, springs to mind. And there is real democracy here, a woman and a man speaking their truth freely, in turn, with the other person listening.

Band freiroulet@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/EmilieRouletAndMichaelFrei
Booking/Management Séverine Gonzalez - cvrin prod • cvrin.com

credits

released August 19, 2022

The Beauty of Lost Causes
(a record by)
Emilie Roulet & Michael Frei

Featuring contributions by
Fred Merk
Philippe Simon
Sam Vaney
Timothée Zurbuchen

Recorded by Chris Giggelmann, Fred Merk & Michael Frei

Produced by Chris Diggelmann & Fred Merk,
Co-produced by Emilie Roulet & Michael Frei

Recorded @ Mazzive Sound (Bellmund, CH), January 10/11 2021
Recorded @ Invisible Inc. Studio (St-Légier, CH) April 18 2021
Recorded @ Studio 603 (Vevey, CH), May 2021

Mixed by Chris Diggelmann (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 & 10) & Fred Merk (tracks 3, 4, 5, 8 & 9)
Mastered by Chris Diggelmann

Photographs by Pierre-Edouard Monnier

Cover design by Mathieu Donner

Distribution: trepanationrecordings.bandcamp.com
(except) Distribution for Switzerland : emilierouletmichaelfrei.bandcamp.com

Booking and Management: Séverine Gonzalez - cvrin prod • cvrin.com

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Trepanation Recordings UK

A UK based record label for extreme, experimental, progressive and dark sounds.

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