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viewing 1 To 19 of 19 items
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3LP
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CLICHE 067LP
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Independent labels have always been risky ventures, marred by uncertainty; you never know how long they'll last for. Yet, for more than 15 years, Cosmo Vitelli has kept I'm A Cliché going. During this time, his label, its releases, and the artists behind them have found their place in the musical landscape, standing proudly and defiantly in the margins, a place where music is always more interesting and fluid than right in the middle of the spotlight. After countless EPs, several albums, and a compilation, a new chapter in I'm A Cliché's story begins, one with a greatly reduced release schedule. To mark this turning point, the label releases Bongo Beats and Bankruptcy, its second compilation ever. Aesthetically coherent and simultaneously diverse in its expressions, Bongo Beats and Bankruptcy is a celebration of the label (and the label manager's) quirks and eccentricities and a tongue-in-cheek snapshot that brilliantly captures the label's DNA, featuring friends and allies along with newer faces on 13 exclusive tracks scattered over three LPs. Whether they are downtempo, up-tempo or ambient, like Orestt's contribution, each tune on this compilation distills in its own idiosyncratic way I'm A Cliché's essence: electronic music influenced by club culture but in no way constrained to the dancefloor. Ivan Smagghe and Marc Collin's analog synth track by their acclaimed Volga Select project, June's dreamy tune at the crossroads between wave and kraut influences, Coy's mutant synth arpeggios, and an old-school wave cut by Oliver Decrow mixed by Dunkeltier are all tracks boldly standing on the dancefloor's margins. For those looking for club-ready tracks that with I'm A Cliché's one-of-a-kind atmosphere will surely find what they are after in an downtempo edit of Awkward Corners, a bouncy and melodic IDM not IDM number by Rouge Mécanique, a bleeps and pan-pipes affair by Benoît B, an esoteric dance-rock number with stated Lynch influences by Fantastic Twins, a freaky electro cut by Linja, a melancholic 707 driven banger by Krikor and finally an anxious and forward-thinking half-stepper by label head Cosmo Vitelli. Also features Awkward Corners, Sunju Hargun, Andrew Claristidge, and Odopt. Edition of 300.
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12"
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EDIT 003EP
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I'm a Cliché provides the third chapter of its Edit Service - Special Delivery. This new 12" features four edits by Moscovian DJ and producer Grisha Nelyubin, also a part of the Odopt project, under his new moniker Blind Rape. Using unexpected material, from percussive Brazilian obscurities to lost French '80s tapes, ex-Yugoslavian EBM or early '70s heavy krautrock, Nelyubin delivers four powerful dancefloor friendly edits which already show a very personal touch. Single pressing; Edition of 300.
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12"
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CLICHE 066EP
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I'm a Cliché boss Cosmo Vitelli is back with the label's first release of 2017. "When Suddenly : Acid" is an instantly gratifying tune with the kind of disco-not-disco and acid-without-303 vibes that I'm a Cliché is famous for. "El Si Señor (Skinny Version)" is a down-tempo track, chock-full of melodic and percussive content. Clocking at nine minutes, "The Cemetery Of Unsigned House Tracks" starts with a refined but twisted vibe, which is swallowed by a hypnotic and sensual synth arpeggio. "El Si Señor (Soundtrack Version)" is a reference to '70s film music.
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12"
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EDIT 002EP
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Second installment of I'm A Cliche's series, curated by Red Axes and Rouge Mécanique. One poster inserted in each record sleeve. Single pressing limited to 300 copies.
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12"
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CLICHE 065EP
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Jonathan Kusuma presents four new tracks with Automatone. "Automatone" is a streamlined yet highly efficient tune of a robotic persuasion: thick sub bass, a round-edged groove, metallic percussion, dramatic sweeps and synthetic spurts. "Mordor Disko" is a track with a disco kit, Latin percussion and arpeggios. Like a disco in Tolkien's universe. "Police & Snitch" is somewhere between EBM and disco, driven by a hypnotic, groovy analog bassline with warm percussion sounds. "Drum Shot" closes the EP; a dramatic rhythm track with hand percussion giving a subtle beat repeat treatment, noisy bleeps, eerie vocal samples and arresting pads.
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12"
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CLICHE 064EP
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I'm a Cliché boss Cosmo Vitelli presents the first release to come out of his studio in Berlin's Marzahn district. The emotional, up-tempo "A Cruel Story" draws influences from genres that end in "wave" and the spirit of sentimental electro. "Ketamine Karaoke" further explores and reinterprets the melancholic and melodic potential of older genres with gently modulating analog synths and vintage drum machines. "Chiens de l'Enfer" is structured around brooding percussion, hypnotic melodies, sinister synths, and an entrancing bassline. I:Cube's remix of "A Cruel Story" enhances the hypnotic elements of the original for a tense, dark, but quite debonair work.
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12"
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CLICHE 063EP
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Tel Aviv's Red Axes open the second installment in their Shem series, following Vol. 1 (CLICHE 059EP, 2015), with the hypnotic "Shem"; its brilliant use of space and subtle melodic variations recalls timeless film scores in the spirit of Ennio Morricone's work. With its guitars, live percussion, and keyboards, "Oh Key" is a throwback to Red Axes' early sound. "Sweet John Gang" layers psychedelic melodies on an understated groove of heavily treated guitar and frequency-oscillating synths. The syncopated beat of the highly danceable "More More and More" lets treated drums, a fuzzy bassline, and synth stabs breathe through the mix.
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12"
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CLICHE 062EP
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Ilari Larjosto aka Stiletti-Ana, legend of Helsinki's underground, is involved in K-X-P, Tähtiportti, DJ Candle in the Wind, Jimi Tenor, Randy Barracuda, and acclaimed band Jesse. With a fuzzy melody and galloping bassline, the richly layered and highly danceable "Universal Carrier" is equally indebted to krautrock and disco. "Through the Skyline I Heard Ur Voice" is an uplifting, playful slow jam with larger-than-life drum machines and maximal synth-work. The blissed-out "Time We Left This World Today (Part 2)" features layers of haunting melody and an understated yet efficient beat.
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12"
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CLICHE 061EP
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I'm a Cliché's own Crackboy aka Krikor presents his debut EP as Docteur Satan, injecting a lethal dose of horror to the dancefloor through the lens of new beat, Belgium's own slow-burning, utterly decadent sound. "Entity" is a throbbing groove with ecstatic vowels, elegant rave stabs, and an unsettling vocal sample. "(666) 361-6794" features filtered Juno hoovers and a pounding drum machine groove. For their remix of "Entity," Israeli duo Red Axes take the rhythmic elements up a notch. "The Operator" clocks around 100BPM, built on thumping drums and candid hooks -- perfect for all your satanic ritual dancefloor needs.
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12"
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CLICHE 060EP
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"Homies" is a slow jam initially released in a limited run in 2007, with gloomy pads setting the scene for warm synth bass, raspy hooks, and short vocal samples. "L'âge de Glace" owes as much to vintage horror film soundtracks as to music of a cosmic persuasion, with droning pads, ominous sweeps, a meticulous rhythm section, strident leads, and arpeggiated synths. Jonathan Kusuma's subtle, efficient remix of "L'âge de Glace" features a tighter structure and a bass guitar groove tailored for the dancefloor. "Delta" is a cosmic, light, dreamy track with beautiful synth leads and drum machine toms.
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12"
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CLICHE 059EP
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After their critically acclaimed 2014 LP Ballad of the Ice (CLICHE 056CD/LP), Red Axes present Shem Vol. 1, the first entry in the Israeli duo's Shem series on I'm a Cliché. Blissed-out psychedelic track "Na Da" almost sounds like The Jesus & Mary Chain making techno in 2015. Afro-jazz-inspired "Balma" has an unmistakable house feeling that's enhanced by Portuguese crooner Abraõ. Recorded with Zidan, ecstatic cut "Nu" is a prime example of Red Axes' ability to make club-ready tracks out of organic elements. "Spider Feel" conjures subtle ethnic and cosmic vibes with tape delay, spring reverb, and other vintage effects.
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12"
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CLICHE 058EP
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I'm A Cliché's latest release features Indonesia's best-kept secret, Jonathan Kusuma. On the Gong 3000 EP, tracks range from the heavenly to the downright gritty, showcasing the full range of Kusuma's abilities. "The Grand Search" features an endless vertical ascension fueled by an exhilarating groove, as majestic as it is ecstatic. "Gong 3000" is built around the massive sound of a synthetic gong, with a grumbling bass line and ricochet drums. On "Street Siren," a devastating peak-time weapon, Kusuma uses siren sounds, a ruthless rhythm section, and intoxicating synths to create a colossal track, accompanied by Karamika's brooding industrial remix.
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12"
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CLICHE 057EP
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I'm A Cliche is back in the saddle with a new look and a new feel while keeping the same great sound. Moscoman's "Dark Horse" features a robust drum groove, a syncopated bass line, a galloping cowbell and treated drum fills that mingle with hypnotic arpeggios and dramatic pads to create an ominous feeling. "Rerotica" features a mesmerizing bass sequence with a no-frills beat. There's a hint of electro-funk nostalgia and a dash of gothic post-punk which gives "Ego Trippin'" that je-ne-sais-quoi required to take dancefloors to the next level. The Twins's remix of the track is tailored for club use with an elegant, full-bodied groove.
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LP
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CLICHE 056LP
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LP version. Red Axes is Niv Arzi and Dori Sadovnik, two young men who have always lived in Tel Aviv and have been making music together since the noughties. Ballad of the Ice is their debut album. Their artistic travels have taken them from the rock scene to the dancefloors, and to creating an album. More than a summary, this LP is an invitation to discover a singular musical identity: a ballad of the ice, a song as light as love and cold as a tunnel, springy as a dance step and deep as nostalgia. Originally, the two young men were part of the band Red Cotton. Their musical obsessions were very distinct and have never really left them since: post-punk, new-wave, synth-pop, gothic rock, Italo-disco and all the other styles with double-barreled names that flourished in the underground of the Western world at the turn of the '70s and '80s. They were barely born then, and Israel was hardly a promised land for these musical trends. Nonetheless, today the people who love these styles, at the forefront of which Cosmo Vitelli, founder of the label I'm a Cliché who signed them, recognize Red Axes' talent for creating tracks that are not only impeccably referenced, but also terribly current, in their production and in their intentions. In 2009, house and techno made a noisy entrance into their lives. They were DJs by then and Tel Aviv was all hedonism and crazy parties. Red Cotton was over and Red Axes began. In 2012, I'm a Cliché introduced them into a community of people who enjoyed what the musical press could refer to as "cold-rave." Four EPs were released on the French label that discovered sharp acts such as Yuksek, Azari & III and Simian Mobile Disco. Add to these a bunch of edits that went spinning on everyone's turntables -- remixes and originals that attracted labels such as Kill The JD, Throne of Blood, Correspondant, Clouded Vision, Relish and others -- these built Red Axes' reputation as the makers of solid dancefloor tools. Meanwhile, being resident DJs of the Bootleg in Tel Aviv gave them the ability to broaden their scope. It also allowed them to rub shoulders with some of their favorite DJs, from Ivan Smagghe and Jennifer Cardini to the Cómeme crew. These established DJs quickly became major supporters. But Red Axes didn't get lost in a loop of never-ending clubbing. The extent of their research is evident on the album. Apart from beautiful vocals by Abrão, a member of various Brazilian punk bands of the '80s, Arzi and Sadovnik handled all the instruments and machines. After "Head Like Glass," a pure cold-wave intro, Red Axes take us on a repetitive stroll of light percussion with "Kicks Out of You." Then comes the rock track "Watkins," followed by a brass dub "Only a Clown Can Catch an Axe." The poignant "Papa Sooma" feels like it's coming out of an old cassette player, and "Road to the Hills" is all intimate house feelings. "Neon" will make you feel like you're on the set of an urban Western, while "Candy" is a toe-tapping Mancunian devil. "Bela Lugosi's Dead," a Bauhaus cover, adds a layer of groove in the bat cave, and finally, "Dreams Like a Tale" closes the album in a psychedelic mist.
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CD
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CLICHE 056CD
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Red Axes is Niv Arzi and Dori Sadovnik, two young men who have always lived in Tel Aviv and have been making music together since the noughties. Ballad of the Ice is their debut album. Their artistic travels have taken them from the rock scene to the dancefloors, and to creating an album. More than a summary, this LP is an invitation to discover a singular musical identity: a ballad of the ice, a song as light as love and cold as a tunnel, springy as a dance step and deep as nostalgia. Originally, the two young men were part of the band Red Cotton. Their musical obsessions were very distinct and have never really left them since: post-punk, new-wave, synth-pop, gothic rock, Italo-disco and all the other styles with double-barreled names that flourished in the underground of the Western world at the turn of the '70s and '80s. They were barely born then, and Israel was hardly a promised land for these musical trends. Nonetheless, today the people who love these styles, at the forefront of which Cosmo Vitelli, founder of the label I'm a Cliché who signed them, recognize Red Axes' talent for creating tracks that are not only impeccably referenced, but also terribly current, in their production and in their intentions. In 2009, house and techno made a noisy entrance into their lives. They were DJs by then and Tel Aviv was all hedonism and crazy parties. Red Cotton was over and Red Axes began. In 2012, I'm a Cliché introduced them into a community of people who enjoyed what the musical press could refer to as "cold-rave." Four EPs were released on the French label that discovered sharp acts such as Yuksek, Azari & III and Simian Mobile Disco. Add to these a bunch of edits that went spinning on everyone's turntables -- remixes and originals that attracted labels such as Kill The JD, Throne of Blood, Correspondant, Clouded Vision, Relish and others -- these built Red Axes' reputation as the makers of solid dancefloor tools. Meanwhile, being resident DJs of the Bootleg in Tel Aviv gave them the ability to broaden their scope. It also allowed them to rub shoulders with some of their favorite DJs, from Ivan Smagghe and Jennifer Cardini to the Cómeme crew. These established DJs quickly became major supporters. But Red Axes didn't get lost in a loop of never-ending clubbing. The extent of their research is evident on the album. Apart from beautiful vocals by Abrão, a member of various Brazilian punk bands of the '80s, Arzi and Sadovnik handled all the instruments and machines. After "Head Like Glass," a pure cold-wave intro, Red Axes take us on a repetitive stroll of light percussion with "Kicks Out of You." Then comes the rock track "Watkins," followed by a brass dub "Only a Clown Can Catch an Axe." The poignant "Papa Sooma" feels like it's coming out of an old cassette player, and "Road to the Hills" is all intimate house feelings. "Neon" will make you feel like you're on the set of an urban Western, while "Candy" is a toe-tapping Mancunian devil. "Bela Lugosi's Dead," a Bauhaus cover, adds a layer of groove in the bat cave, and finally, "Dreams Like a Tale" closes the album in a psychedelic mist.
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12"
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CLICHE 055EP
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This is Red Axes' fourth EP with the Paris-based boutique I'm a Cliché. It is their last DJ-friendly record (both vinyl and digital) before the awaited release of their first LP entitled Ballad of the Ice. Three original tracks are included, featuring a tune in Spanish in "Candela Viva," some spoken-word on "Kicks Out of You," and finally some unexpected samba beats on the beautiful "Too Late to Samba." Thanks to their incredible technique, their passion for the past and the remote translates into something that belongs to right here and right now.
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CD
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CLICHE 053CD
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Bot'Ox is a duo formed in 2005 by Frenchmen Julien Briffaz and Cosmo Vitelli. After a road-trip to Babylon (Babylon by Car, their first album released in 2010), they come back to haunt dark clubs with a second album, Sans Dormir. The album consists of 10 tracks, mostly sung, some of which have already been released in the form of singles and remixes. For the second album, the battered Cadillac comes to a stop in the parking lot of a deserted nightclub, as suggested by the visuals presented with the project, abandoned French clubs as photographed by Phillipe Lebruman. Opening with a spectral visit from downstairs, "Basement Love," the album continues with "Grands Boulevards," an instinctive, nocturnal trip where rockabilly guitars rub elbows with Moogs while giving an account of obsessions, recurring dreams and waking nightmares. "2.4.1" speaks of disillusionment in love while leaning towards soft-rock. "Another Form of Fatigue" tries to tame the migraine with a dubby feel. "Back from the Suburbs" is a twisted electro-rock ballad. "Goodbye Fantasy" is an anti-declaration of love with pro-British pop accents. "The Face of Another" is a kind of dissatisfied, sexually wandering disco-pop while "Night Stuntman" is a psychedelic credit roll for a movie with no happy ending. The sweet "Unfinished Business" makes an attempt at reconciliation, before the synthesizers all emerge for the title-track. In the cold but heartfelt voices of the artists is a meeting of male and female intimacy, which sometimes replies to each other ("Unfinished Business"). These voices include Mark Kerr, Anna Jean and Judy Nylon (of the legendary punk band Snatch). They are joined here by Samy Osta and Foremost Poets, the iconic trans-Atlantic voice of underground house/techno. The two members of Bot'Ox are prominent figures of electronic music "made in France." Julien Briffaz was a long-time part of the house and techno duo Tekel. Cosmo Vitelli earned his reputation as a producer during the early French Touch years, remixing or being remixed by De Crecy, Cassius and Daft Punk. Cosmo Vitelli and Julien Briffaz came together by indulging their common obsessions: an aesthetic mechanical universe, marked by the mythology of the automobile, the paradoxical fragility of its bodywork, and a fanatical mutating vision of music. This highway alternates car chases, anxiety-filled passages through customs and forest walks at dusk.
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CLICHE 053LP
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LP version. Includes a digital download code, plus a bonus CD with unreleased tracks. Bot'Ox is a duo formed in 2005 by Frenchmen Julien Briffaz and Cosmo Vitelli. After a road-trip to Babylon (Babylon by Car, their first album released in 2010), they come back to haunt dark clubs with a second album, Sans Dormir. The album consists of 10 tracks, mostly sung, some of which have already been released in the form of singles and remixes. For the second album, the battered Cadillac comes to a stop in the parking lot of a deserted nightclub, as suggested by the visuals presented with the project, abandoned French clubs as photographed by Phillipe Lebruman. Opening with a spectral visit from downstairs, "Basement Love," the album continues with "Grands Boulevards," an instinctive, nocturnal trip where rockabilly guitars rub elbows with Moogs while giving an account of obsessions, recurring dreams and waking nightmares. "2.4.1" speaks of disillusionment in love while leaning towards soft-rock. "Another Form of Fatigue" tries to tame the migraine with a dubby feel. "Back from the Suburbs" is a twisted electro-rock ballad. "Goodbye Fantasy" is an anti-declaration of love with pro-British pop accents. "The Face of Another" is a kind of dissatisfied, sexually wandering disco-pop while "Night Stuntman" is a psychedelic credit roll for a movie with no happy ending. The sweet "Unfinished Business" makes an attempt at reconciliation, before the synthesizers all emerge for the title-track. In the cold but heartfelt voices of the artists is a meeting of male and female intimacy, which sometimes replies to each other ("Unfinished Business"). These voices include Mark Kerr, Anna Jean and Judy Nylon (of the legendary punk band Snatch). They are joined here by Samy Osta and Foremost Poets, the iconic trans-Atlantic voice of underground house/techno. The two members of Bot'Ox are prominent figures of electronic music "made in France." Julien Briffaz was a long-time part of the house and techno duo Tekel. Cosmo Vitelli earned his reputation as a producer during the early French Touch years, remixing or being remixed by De Crecy, Cassius and Daft Punk. Cosmo Vitelli and Julien Briffaz came together by indulging their common obsessions: an aesthetic mechanical universe, marked by the mythology of the automobile, the paradoxical fragility of its bodywork, and a fanatical mutating vision of music. This highway alternates car chases, anxiety-filled passages through customs and forest walks at dusk.
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2CD
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CLICHE 053LTDCD
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Deluxe double CD version. Includes previously unreleased and digital-only tracks, plus excerpts from the soundtrack to Mineurs 27, directed by Tristan Aurouet.
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