Jean-Claude Vannier and Mike Patton are collaborating on a new album, Corpse Flower, which will be released on Ipecac on September 13 – you can hear a track, ‘On Top Of The World’, above.
The veteran producer who helped birth Serge Gainsbourg’s Histoire de Melody Nelson – surely one of the greatest French albums ever recorded – before releasing one of the most baffling cult French albums ever recorded, L’Enfant assassin des mouches, seems like a perfect foil for the former Faith No More man, who, in this instance, is more notable for his work with Mondo Cane, Fantômas, Mr Bungle and Tomahawk.
The lyrics for the track ‘Ballad C.3.3.’ are taken directly from Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Ballad of Reading Gaol’, which was initially published using the name C.3.3.
Patton says: "Jean-Claude and I met while working together on a Gainsbourg retrospective at the Hollywood Bowl in 2011. We bonded immediately. I could see he had a dedication and attention to detail that was relentless so the respect I had for him in my mind was magnified in person. We spoke loosely about working together in the future… and it took some time, but after a few years I contacted him and we began to ignite some sparks.”
Vannier adds: “I would send Mike rough versions of the songs to get his thoughts, then I’d wait impatiently, staring at the clock, until I received his response. He made my music awaken with his unique perspective and interpretations of my songs. A formidable vocalist, with a sense of humour, Mike and I created a strong, beautiful and sincere collection of music, as well as a friendship.”
The line-up of musicians who worked on the album includes Smokey Hormel (Johnny Cash), Justin Meldal-Johnsen (Nine Inch Nails) and James Gadson (Beck, Jamie Lidell), Bernard Paganotti (Magma) and the Bécon Palace String Ensemble.
