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Isabelle Antena \ Carpe Diem + Les Derniers Guerriers Romantiques [LTMCD 2485]

Originally released on Les Disques du Crépuscule in November 1992, Carpe Diem was recorded with guest musicians including Marco De Meersman (drums) and Fritz Sundermann (guitar) at Studio Caraibes in Brussels. The prevailing vibe is cool jazz, latin and bossa, and complements perfectly Isabelle's warm voice and soft, sensual lyrics.

All twelve tracks on Carpe Diem were produced by Isabelle and represent a personal affirmation of life and music, following the tragic death of her husband and musical partner Dirk Schoufs (of Vaya Con Dios). The song Corto Prend le Large is a heartfelt tribute to Dirk.

The 66 minute remaster also includes all 10 tracks from her previous album, Les Derniers Guerriers Romantiques, recorded in 1991 by Isabelle with Dirk and a team of crack jazz and bossa musicians.

Tracklist

1. Le Syndrome de Peter Pan
2. Deux Enfants
3. L'Amour Eternel
4. Sous les Baobabs
5. Instant de Trac
6. Calife Blues
7. No Puedo Sin Ti
8. E Preciso Perdoar
9. Corto Prend le Large
10. Inspire-Moi
11. L'Inconnu Vers L'Infini
12. Quand Les Amants...
13. Jungle Zone
14. L'Amour Sauvage
15. Sur Ton Ile
16. I Love You Mr Hyde
17. Le Visiteur du Savoir
18. S'en Aller
19. La Ballade du Seigneur de la Guerre
20. Le Dernier Guerrier Romantique
21. Dans un Million d'Années
22. Aquarius

Available on CD. To order please first select correct shipping option (UK, Europe or Rest of World) and then click on Add To Cart button below cover image.

Carpe Diem [LTMCD 2485]
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Reviews:

"Modern electro-samba, full of latin, bossa and jazz vibes that slot in easily with Antena's smooth, soft voice, complete with ten extra tracks from her previous album" (Record Collector, 03/2007)

"This is not an expanded version of the original Carpe Diem album but a pairing of that 1992 album with its immediate predecessor, 1991's Les Derniers Guerriers Romantiques. It's still a worthy release, though, not least because the two albums are tied together by sad circumstances. Les Derniers Guerriers, following in the vein of Isabelle Antena's earlier solo efforts in the 80s, found the singer continuing to enthusiastically explore her own stylish hybrids of worldwide musical styles, with bossa nova, mid-20th century jazz, torch songs and more modern touches - not to mention a cover of hippie musical standard Aquarius - combined in beautiful fashion. One of the musicians was double-bassist Dirk Schoufs, who had not only become her key collaborator but her personal partner, which fed into the gently celebratory air of the album - but who tragically died a month after its release. It is in this light that the very appropriately titled Carpe Diem should be seen, both as an affirmation of Antena's determination to live life to the fullest, and as a further pursuit of the synthesis she had made her own over the years. That it starts out with one of her most exuberant and lively songs, the salsa-driven Le Syndrome de Peter Pan, is enough to show Carpe Diem is not out to simply remember with regret, but to embrace with gusto. The loss of Schoufs is addressed directly via Corto Prend Le Large, but there are other down moods at points, in other ways, like the delicious blues/jazz confection Calife Blues. The sheer play in Antena's work is no less buried either - thus the brief interruption by one Achilles and Penelope with "freestyle intervention" on the doubtless-titled-after-them Deux Enfants" (All Music Guide, 2008)