Jean-Marc Lederman – Ode A La Pluie (CD Album – Wool-E Discs)

Genre/Influences: Cinematographic, experimental.
Background/Info: Belgian electro-veteran Jean-Marc Lederman has no limits when it comes to releasing new music. Mainly known for his early involvement with The Weathermen and during the past few years for being part of Ghost & Writer and Lederman/De Meyer, this new release is again something special. “Ode A La Pluie” (translated “Ode To The Rain”) originally is an exhibition created by Jean-Marc’s wife Erica Hinyot. The conceptual theme was about rain featuring texts, drawings and paintings. Lederman got the idea to compose music around the theme resulting in five pieces. This work is part of the label’s series “Belgian NeuMusik”.
Content: The tracks are simply numbered from one to five. Sound-wise this is a pure cinematographic composition, which is not the first experience in the genre for the artist. The ambient aspect comes directly through creating an impression of solitude, but still reminding me of passages of the legendary movie “Le Grand Bleu”. It’s an abyssal sensation composed by electronics, but where you often get the sensation real instruments (like a harp or a piano) have been used.
+ + + : The more time passes by, the more Jean-Marc Lederman creates real intimate compositions. I already had this sensation on his brilliant “13 Ghost Stories”-album, but this work is even more intimate. It has strong visual passages, which you also have to discover by using headphones. The work is a marvelous and truly artistic symbiosis between different artistic formats while it also symbolizes the eclecticism of the musician. It’s definitely not the most accessible kind of music, but it’s a new genius exposure from this workaholic. I also have to say a word about the great and artistic box format of this release.
– – – : The tracks are rather long during so there’re a few –and unavoidable, monotonous passages, but you don’t hear me complaining.
Conclusion: Jean-Marc Lederman never stops to take me by surprise and this conceptual work again is a totally accomplished and arty exposure of his talent.
Best songs: “Ode A La Pluie 2”, “Ode A La Pluie 1”.
Rate: (8).
Artist: www.jmlederman.com / www.facebook.com/jeanmarc.kollector / www.facebook.com/Music–composer–Jean–Marc–Lederman-1585277635023000
Label: www.wool–e–discs.be / www.facebook.com/woolediscs
About Jean-Marc Lederman
Jean-Marc Lederman is a Belgian electronic musician whose first release came with the punk band Streets in 1977. He went on to work with Digital Dance before moving to London, where he played with Fad Gadget, Matt Johnson and Gene Loves Jezebel, and led his own project Kid Montana. His best-known outlet became The Weathermen, formed with Tuxedomoon’s Bruce Geduldig under the aliases Patricia Hearst and Jimmyjoe Snark III. The duo split in 1992, reformed in 2003, and released “Deeper” (2004) and “Embedded With The Weathermen” (2006) before Geduldig’s death in 2016. Lederman also recorded with Front 242, formed La Femme Verte in 2010 with singers including Julianne Regan, released “Romania” as Leatherman with Jacques Duvall in 2012, and launched Ghost & Writer with Frank Spinath in 2011. “Ode A La Pluie” places him back on Wool-E Discs’ “Belgian NeuMusik” series; he returned to the label again for “Electronic Slipper Music” in 2025.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

