Elsiane: A New Hybrid in Music
I have always been strangely attracted to interracial miscegenation and interspecies admixture (nevertheless, I stand against interspecies mating, especially sex practices between humans and animals, and I will criticize severely and attack abruptly all who harbour zoophiliac passions or tolerate bestiality). The universe of classical mythology and the fantasy worlds of illustrious literary figures are teaming with these unorthodox in shape and behaviour creatures - the anthropomorphic centaurs, fauns, satyrs, mermaids, seraphims, cupids, gorgons and the non-human Pegasus, Chimera and Griffin.
In music a hybrid is a fusion of different styles, moods, themes or even genres. The ultimate paragon is the uprising duo Elsiane. I recently stumbled upon the ingenious work of Elsieanne Caplette (vocals, keyboards) and Stephane Sotto (drums). The name of the musical project is a portmanteau of the artists’ first names (Elsi-eanne + Steph-ane = Elsiane).
Elsieanne was born in Peru where she studied classical music, mentored by an artist who advocated the exploration and blending of other traditions and genres. Stephane was born and raised in Montreal. He is a self-taught musician. The study of Art History he was involved in rendered a conceptual sensitivity within him. The musical project was conceived and got under way right after they met in 1999, when Elsiaeanne’s family immigrated to Montreal.
Elsiane is a hybrid of two individuals with different cultural and educational background and the phenomenology of their perception. The music of the duo is deep and emotional - melody is its cornerstone. Hues and tints of pop, trip-hop, downtempo, ambient, experimental, darkwave and world music are making it exuberant. The idiosyncratic voice of Elsieanne - both angelic and haunting, is the hallmark of this noteworthy project.
In 2007 Elsiane released their first album - "Hybrid" (guess where the name comes from). The eleven songs from that album are climbing the tops of my charts. I strongly recommend it to all fans of Massive Attack, Pink Floyd, Clint Mansell, Dead Can Dance, Sigur ros, Lamb, Air, Portishead, Depeche Mode, The Cinematic Orchestra, Radiohead.
Listen to these tracks: Elsiane - Morphing, Elsiane - Vaporous, Elsiane - Mend, Elsiane - Hybrid. You can see the lyrics on their official website. If you need a shortcut click here.
