My favorite contemporary French composer and lover of toy pianos, Yann is probably best known for his charming score to the film Amélie. Les Retrouvailles is his most recent studio album, from 2005. Guest vocalists include Stuart Staples (Tindersticks), Jane Birkin, Dominique A and Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins). I'm having a hard time reading the credits (my French is poor), but I believe the album was co-produced, recorded and mixed by F. Lor (Fabrice Laureau) with Marc Guéroult assisting and that larger sessions and mixing were at Studios Davout, Paris. Mastered at Abbey Road by Chris Blair. It's a beautiful album. (www.yanntiersen.com, www.virginrecords.com)

Tape Op is a bi-monthly magazine devoted to the art of record making.

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