Jean-Marc Lederman – Soul Music For Zombies (Album – Les Disques De La Pantoufle / COP International)
Genre/Influences: Experimental, Abstract, Hypnotic.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Belgian Electronic veteran Jean-Marc Lederman strikes back with a new solo-work. The hilarious title might be an indication for this work but especially the opening track “The Blue Note” gives us more information. A ‘blue note’ is a ‘music term; note that for expressive purposes is sung or played at a slightly different pitch than standard’.
Content: Jean-Marc Lederman has created a kind of ‘free-style’ -which he’s been doing for a while, using soul vocals he transformed, pitched and supported with hypnotic electronics. Sometimes ghost-like and even reminding me of a track to the great “Twin Peaks”-tune but often totally Experimental -reminding me of Staalplaat releases.
+ + + : The creativity of this artist has no limits; nothing is impossible and everything is worthy of an experiment. I can’t say I’m fond of this new record but I honestly salute and respect the ‘no compromises’ attitude of the artist. It all seems like he doesn’t really care about established standards, fashion trends and ‘bankable’ productions. Lederman is having fun revisiting soul hymns in a very personal way.
– – – : I’m really wondering how people and fans of the artist will react to this new work. I honestly prefer him composing more accessible and Pop-driven music.
Conclusion: Did Jean-Marc Lederman get contaminated by a virus? Did he use some dope to write this album? One thing is for sure, he’s doing his very own, damned, thing.
Best songs: “She’s My Candy Cane”, “The Music Walks Again (The Robert Johnson Story) featuring Emileigh Rohn.
Rate: 6.
Artist: www.jmlederman.com / www.facebook.com/jeanmarc.lederman
Label: www.facebook.com/copint
Listen to “Soul Music For Zombies”:
About Jean-Marc Lederman
Jean-Marc Lederman is a Belgian electronic musician and composer. His career includes work with Front 242, The The, Gene Loves Jezebel, Fad Gadget, The Weathermen and French rocker Alain Bashung, along with film and video game scoring credits, including the 2017 feature “Doubleplusonegood” and work as second composer to Ramin Djawadi. He has released double CD/artbook albums as Jean-Marc Lederman Experience, among them “13 Ghost Stories” in 2019 and “Letters To Gods (And Fallen Angels)” in 2020, and worked with Jean-Luc De Meyer of Front 242 in the Lederman / De Meyer project, which released two EPs and the album “Eleven Grinding Songs”. In 2020 he signed to COP International, the label behind “Soul Music For Zombies”, released on Les Disques De La Pantoufle / COP International in digital and CD formats on February 10, 2023.
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