the french impressionists
ltm catalog

Formed by pianist and songwriter Malcolm Fisher in Glasgow, The French Impressionists were first associated with Postcard Records, recording a demo in June 1981 with the help of vocalist Paul Quinn and members of Aztec Camera. Fisher then formed a full band with singers Louise Ness and Margaret Murphy in 1982, recording two melodic singles for Les Disques du Crepuscule, A Selection of Songs and Santa Baby. After relocating to Milan for solo work, Malcolm returned with a new group of Impressionists and the albums Fête and Amelia Rosselli. To read full band biography click here. To purchase Frimps CD click here.


A SELECTION OF SONGS LTMCD 2415 £10
This digitally remastered Selection of Songs on CD includes all tracks recorded by the band for singles and compilation albums, several demos, and five in-concert tracks recorded live in Glasgow. The booklet includes a detailed band biography. The 16 Frimps tracks are boosted by two long piano suites recorded by chief Impressionist Malcolm Fisher in 1998. Full tracklist: Pick Up the Rhythm, Blue Skies, Since You've Been Away, Theme From Walking Home, Santa Baby, Castles in the Air, Mannequin, Rainbows Never End, Mannequin, Waiting for Someone, Boo Boo's Gone Mambo, My Guardian Angel, My Rainy Day (live), Nothing Really Matters (live), Helpless (live), Summertime (live), Blue Skies (live), Seven Suite, Lantern Suite.

Reviews: "Small group jazz-cum-pop done for love rather than money. The emphasis is on tunes and moods rather than improv or experimentation. The piano is delightfully controlled and supports the songs without shouting for attention. Rhythm and harmony are more complex than a pop audience would normally expect to cope with. The additional piano cycles are a very fair addition to an already generous collection. The Debussy/Impressionist connection becomes more evident" (Whisperin' & Hollerin', 11/04); "Glorious - a key element in the whole Postcard Sound of Young Scotland" (Tangents, 2004)


FÊTE LTMCD 2471 £10
In 2007 Malcolm Fisher gathered together a new group of Impressionists, including singers Cressida Jenkins, Sara Cicenia and Alberto Antoniazzi, as well as multi-media artist Sally Titterington. The resulting album offers a beguiling mix of jazz, lieder, tone poems and modern composition. Several of the lyrics are texts by poets Amelia Rosselli and William Blake. The deluxe booklet featuring a selection of colour images by Malcolm Fisher, and cover art by Moderne. 22 tracks, 63 minutes of music. Full tracklist: Fête, Metal Bird, A Pretty Rose Tree, Angel Blues, Madelaine, Indiscretion, The Chimney Sweeper, Just Take a Moment, Dress, Emporer Suite: Nobody Tells You, Silk Gleaming As, Red Silver Gold, Exit the Emporer, View, Se Nella Luce, l'Infelice Luna, Se Per Un Canto, Lotus, Sail You On, Lips, Haiku, My Guardian Angel.

Reviews: "Glasgow pianist Malcolm Fisher first recorded under this moniker in 1981, when the whiff of nouveau cabaret was getting especially fragrant. Originally associated with Postcard Records, and now resident in Milan, Fisher and his four new vocalists add different hues to 22 understated, Satie-esque miniatures. The effect is akin to This Mortal Coil, imbued as it is with ethereal smatterings of delicately elegant clssicism" (Plan B, 12/2007); "This new venture features some of Fisher's most arresting material to date. A cross-genre blend of solo piano, vocal jazz and modern composition, much of the lyrical content is taken from classical poetry - a move which makes perfect sense in the context of the ineffable beauty of the music" (Boomkat, 10/2007); "Fisher's solo compositions are always a delight, with lovely rolling melodies, their wordless elegance conveying heady romance and intrigue. There's an argument to say that there has been no real musical development since TFI first started out, but that's the beauty of the music - much of it could have been made 50 rather than 25 years ago. Fete doesn't rely on gimmicks to display its charms, rather it's a triumph for old-fashioned musical values such as melody and minimalism" (Leonard's Lair, 02/2008)


AMELIA ROSSELLI LTMCD 2523 £10
For the third French Impressionists album, Malcolm Fisher has joined forces with gifted Italian singer Sara Cicenia, setting the poems of Amelia Rosselli to original piano music. Born in Paris in 1930, Amelia Rosselli was the daughter of anti-fascist resister Carlo Rosselli, assassinated by Mussolini's agents. She spent her life studying ethnomusicology and taking part in the cultural life of postwar Italy as a literary translator and poet, the latter work marked by bold verbal combinations and deliberate linguistic error. She committed suicide in Rome in 1996. The deluxe booklet features a selection of original images by Malcolm Fisher, and the text of the poems. Full tracklist: Il corso del mio cammino, Sul comignolo riposa la notte, Se nella luce, View, Questa sirena che è una dolce cantante, Cercatemi e fuoriuscite, Id, È forse l'anello della fedeltà, Contiamo infiniti cadaveri, Fly, E il parco si stendeva molto tranquillo, Abstract, E chi mi può garantire tu non sei uno di quelli, La mia fresca urina spargo, Sebbene fosse in me il travaglio, Shoes, Giocavo volentieri con l'invidia!, Cercatemi e fuoriuscite, Call, Se per l'ansia che io avevo di te, Breath, Contiamo infiniti morti!, Tutto il mondo è vedovo.

Reviews: "The new record is based on the poetry of Amelia Rosselli, whose sadness-tinged poems reflected a turbulent life. Amelia was the daughter of an anti-fascist resister Carlo Rosselli, who was assassinated by Mussolini's agents. Whilst experiencing more personal suffering, Amelia went on to be a renowned poet and critic before taking her own life, exactly three decades to the day of Sylvia Plath's own suicide. Sensitive to the subject matter involved, this tribute is touching and classily delivered. Amelia Rosselli is a very respectful and respectable set of compositions; given life by understated performances from both Cicenia and Fisher. Granted, seventy-plus minutes of largely sombre music can be difficult to take in one sitting but the duo are never overblown in their approach. In fact, some of the more popular independent artists operating today could learn a lot from these inspired performances" (Leonard's Lair, 11/2008); "Splendid music. Fisher's suspended notes are deeply expressive, and perfectly complement Cicenia's fine voice. One of the best combinations of music and poetry since Baudelaire by Leo Ferre, or Verlaine by John Greaves" (PopNews, 11/08); 'Beautiful piano playing and singing by Sara Cicenia, delivered with sincerety and earnestness that traverse any language barrier' (Exclaim! 09/09)


GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST LTMCD 2426 £10
Digital remaster of the original 1981 Crepuscule Christmas album (TWI 058) with original Hennebert artwork and festive inserts, together with 9 bonus tracks from subsequent editions. The French Impressionists perform Santa Baby. 22 tracks, 72 minutes of music, detailed sleevenotes. Full tracklist: Aztec Camera Hot Club of Christ; The Names Tokyo Twilight; Paul Haig Christiana; The Swinging Buildings Praying for a Cheaper Christmas; White Birds Possessed by the Stars; The Durutti Column One Christmas for Your Thoughts; Mikado Message de Noel; Tuxedomoon Weinachtrap; Simon Topping, Peep Show International; Thick Pigeon, Silhouettes; Michael Nyman, Cream or Christians; Magazzini Criminali Honolulu 25 Dicembre 1990; The French Impressionists Santa Baby; The Pale Fountains Benoit's Christmas; Antena Noelle a Hawai; The Arcadians Write Your Letter; Winston Tong The 12 Days of Christmas; Paul Haig Scottish Christmas; The Durutti Column Snowflakes; Winston Tong The Twelve Days of Christmas; Hillcrest Club Breakfast at Christmas; Monks in the Snow a theme for this special evening.


THE FRUIT OF THE ORIGINAL SIN LTMCD 2497 (2xCD) £12
Deluxe double CD remaster of 2xLP compilation released by Les Disques du Crepuscule in November 1981 (TWI 035), featuring two tracks by The French Impressionists. 31 tracks (including 8 bonus cuts), 120 minutes of music, readings and conversation. To read sleevenote click here. Full tracklist: (disc one) Peter Gordon The Fruit of the Original Sin, The French Impressionists My Guardian Angel / Boo Boo's Gone Mambo, Durutti Column The Eye and the Hand, Wim Mertens Multiple 12, Cecile Bruynoghe Clair de Lune, Marine A Man & A Woman, Paul Haig Mad Horses, Marine Animal In My Head, 323 Affectionate Silence, Swamp Children Flesh, DNA Taking Kid to School / Cop Buys a Donut / Delivering the Goods, Lawrence Weiner & Peter Gordon Deutsche Angst, Durutti Column Weakness & Fever, Rhythm of Life Summertime, The Lost Jockey Matters of Theory; (disc two) Rhine River III An End Remains, Richard Jobson The Happiness of Lonely, Marguerite Duras interview, Virginia Astley A Long Absence, Richard Jobson India Song, The Names Music for Someone, Thick Pigeon Sudan, Durutti Column Party, Arthur Russell Sketch for Face of Helen, Durutti Column Experiment in Fifth, Winston Tong The Next Best Thing To Death, William S. Burroughs Twilight's Last Gleaming, Cecile Bruynoghe Gymnopedie No 1, Rhine River III Departures, Rhythm of Life Soon, Lawrence Weiner Where It Came From.

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MALCOLM FISHER : DRESS / DREAM / SEEDS £10 each
LTM has a limited number of copies of each of these three charming solo piano albums recorded by Malcolm Fisher in 1998 and 2000, previously available only in Italy. All offer 70 minutes of impressionistic piano instrumentals redolent of Claude Debussy, Erik Satie and Les Six.

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