Dvořák, Janáček & Quentin Damamme - Le Paltoquet

Very different from Glass's Koyaanisqatsi, here’s another kind of post-modern soundtrack. Motives from classical pieces by two of the greatest Czech composers, Dvořák & Janáček, subtly rearranged by Quentin Damamme to turn these motives into musical double for each of the film’s characters. Fascinating soundtrack for this unique Cluedo-like French oddball and a great entry point into the music of one of my favourite composers.

I reckon this soundtrack might not be to everyone’s taste. It’s an ironical, post-modern take on some Czech quatuors and trios - not the least obscure pieces of classical music nor the most celebrated composers of their time.

But then I may be wrong, as Quentin Damamme’s light and tongue-in-cheek arrangements highlight the utter modernity of Dvořák and Janáček’s music. I bought this soundtrack for two reasons : 1) I love Janáček’s music, its unique blend of dimmed quietness and apparent serenity; 2)  I didn’t see the film, but knew that it was some 1980’s oddity, a kind of French Drowning By Numbers. And indeed, Le Paltoquet’s soundtrack is a bizarre French cousin to Michael Nyman’s soundtracks for Peter Greenaway, also heavily relying on motives borrowed from classical pieces. 

It’s the kind of records whose beauty is not lying in plain sight, but - very much like Janáček’s music - is hiding in the shade of an "Overgrown Path". It echoes the colour of blank Sunday afternoons, the incomprehensibly delightful taste boredom sometimes has. And it is one of those records, one can go back to many times. Highly recommended for,those who, like me, are sometimes eager to loose themselves in the kind of ennui a secret lineage of composers, from Janáček to Dominique Lawalrée, discreetly mastered. (VG+/VG+)

Tracklist

1. Ouverture
2. Thème de Lotte
3. Lotte et le Journaliste
4. Thème du Commissaire
5. La chambre du crime
6. La pluie de cinq heures
7. Thème du Journaliste
8. Lotte et le Paltoquet
9. On a empoisonné Mademoiselle Lotte
10. Thème du Professeur
11. Le baiser au Paltoquet
12. L’alibi du Professeur
13. Thème de l’Honorable Commerçant
14. On a tiré sur Mademoiselle Lotte
15. La nuit
16. Les éclairs
17. Le carnaval
18. Thème du Docteur
19. L’heure du crime
20. Les raisons du crime