In a world where the airwaves are often cluttered with the predictable humdrum of formulaic melodies, "Shoden" by Cécile Séraud emerges as a refreshing and audacious journey through soundscapes that dance between the ethereal and the whimsical. Inspired by the joyful melancholy of the music by Yann Tiersen, hailing from Brittany, the same region of Cécile, this record, a mosaic of delicate compositions, is an ode to the unexpected and a celebration of serene melancholy wrapped in irony.

The opening track, "Frozen Earth I," is a brief, yet hauntingly beautiful prelude—a mere whisper of what’s to come. It’s as if the frost-kissed silence of an untouched world has been distilled into a mere 83 seconds, leaving listeners with a sense of wonder and anticipation. Then, as if the spell is cast, "Le baiser bleu" unfolds, a piece that envelops the listener in a cerulean embrace, rich with poignant melodies and subtle, lingering notes that caress the soul.

"Frozen Earth II" reappears as a fleeting echo of its predecessor, a ghostly reminder that icy beauty can be both fleeting and timeless. It's a poignant interlude that seamlessly transitions into "Petite valse perdue" a lost waltz that feels like a dance through forgotten dreams. Each note is a step in a delicate choreography of nostalgia and subtle grace.

The titular tracks, "Shoden I" through "Shoden III" are the heartbeats of the album. They pulse with a rhythmic mystique, each part building upon the last, weaving a tapestry of sound that is as intricate as it is profound. "Shoden I" serves as an introduction, a gentle awakening. "Shoden II" deepens the exploration, with melodies that float like whispered secrets on a breeze. "Shoden III" culminates the trilogy with a robust and poignant finale, a testament to Séraud’s mastery in crafting a narrative through music.

"Pen Er Malo" stands as the epic centerpiece, stretching nearly nine minutes. It is an odyssey of sound, where each moment is a discovery. The track ebbs and flows like the tides, a majestic and immersive experience that feels both intimate and vast.
With "Tendresses", Séraud offers a tender reprieve. It is a soft lullaby, a gentle reminder of the simple, yet profound beauty that lies in tenderness itself. The melodies are soothing, a balm for the restless heart.

Finally, the album closes with "Life" a succinct yet powerful meditation on existence. It encapsulates the essence of the album—a reminder that life, in all its complexities and contradictions, is a fleeting, yet beautiful symphony.

"Shoden" by Cécile Séraud is a record that defies convention. It invites listeners to pause and revel in the beauty of the moment, to find solace in the gentle irony of fleeting things. Each track is a brushstroke in a masterful painting, a note in a transcendent melody. It is an album that is as thoughtful as it is emotive, a true testament to the art of music by a musician that weirdly decided to play on piano lately. The 42 years old Cécile is a conservatory graduate, but studied classic guitar since the age of 5. Just a few years ago, she decided to buy a piano to make an old dream come true and play and compose on it. If this is one of the consequences, that decision was a right one.