Cendres de lune is the first album by the French singer/songwriter Mylène Farmer, released on 1 April 1986. The album was preceded by the hit single "Libertine". The album was rereleased in 1987, preceded by the song "Tristana". The album, which was Farmer's only one written and composed by Laurent Boutonnat, achieved success in France. Despite this success, it is considered moderate when compared with Farmer's standards and her later high-selling albums, but it helped to launch her career.

Background After the moderate success of the first four singles ("Maman a tort", "My Mum Is Wrong" [the English-language version of "Maman a tort"], "On est tous des imbéciles" and "Plus grandir"), Farmer decided to release her first album. At the time, she had signed a contract for two albums with the recording company Polydor, which reserved the right to break the contract at any time. Fortunately, in 1986, the success of "Libertine" brought Farmer her first big hit and allowed her to produce Cendres de lune.

The vinyl release of the album contained only nine tracks, including "Maman a tort", "Plus grandir" and its B-side "Chloé", plus six other songs. Polydor did not procure the copyright for "My Mum Is Wrong", "On est tous des imbéciles" and its B-side "L'Annonciation" from RCA, the label Farmer released those tracks on. However, in 1987, with the increasingly prominence of the Compact Disc, the album was reissued with a total of 12 titles: "Tristana", the 1987 hit written by Farmer, and two remixes ("Libertine" [remix special club], "Tristana" [remix club]) were added to the track listing. The second and further cassette releases comprise ten songs, including "Tristana", but missing the two remixes.

The album was also released in Canada and Germany. The cover, in black and white, was produced by Laurent Boutonnat and shows Farmer in profile, apparently sad, putting on a hat.

Lyrics and music The lyrics were written by Laurent Boutonnat who claimed to have had difficulty in composing them.L'Intégrale Mylene Farmer, Erwan Chuberre, 2007, City Ed., p. 71-72 () However, "Plus grandir", "Tristana" and "Au Bout de la nuit" were written by Farmer herself (from "Tristana" onwards, she wrote all the lyrics of her songs), and "Maman a tort" by Jérôme Dahan. Generally, the lyrics deal with themes that would recur in Farmer's future albums, namely death, violence, suicide, sexuality, sadness and fear of aging.Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer, Benoît Cachin, 2006, Tournon Ed., p. 67-68 Therefore, the bases of the singer's universe were laid with this first album whose darkness contrasted greatly with the optimistic songs of the time.

Except for "Maman a tort" and "Libertine", the music was produced by Laurent Boutonnat who used mostly synthesizers and acoustic keyboards and was inspired by the new wave.

Critical reception

Cendres de lune was generally well received by critics. It was considered as an "excellent" album (Gaipied),Gaipied, 1 August 1986 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 25 March 2008) a "success" (Podium),Podium, 1986, "Mylène Farmer - Bonjour l'humour noir", Robert De Laroche Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 25 March 2008) "a first album rather masterly" (La Provence),La Provence, 1 August 1986 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 25 March 2008) "in the area of the variety, one of the most beautiful things of the moment" (Les Gran).Les Gran, 1987, "Mylène Farmer, un je-ne-sais-quoi en plus" Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 25 March 2008) "Full of little marvels" (Charente),Charente, 14 October 1986, "Embrasons-nous", Jean-Louis Mathieu Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 25 March 2008) it contains "hits having an wholesome impertinence" (Télé Poche)Télé Poche, 2 June 1986 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 25 March 2008) and "provides a real insight of [Farmer]'s talent"; [the singer] carries us with her crystalline voice and strange texts, out of time and out of the standards" (Le Républicain).Le Républicain, 14 September 1986, "Une chanteuse "libertine"", Christine Hiquet Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 25 March 2008) "The songs of Mylène fill the air with an atmosphere alternately naughty and sad but very engaging" (7 à Paris).7 à Paris, 23 April 1986, "Passionnément" Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 25 March 2008) "Mylène's voice is exquisite and her accomplices made her sing little ordinary things" (La Dépêche).La Dépêche, 29 June 1986, "Libertine, la petite Mylène qui monte..." Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 25 March 2008) "[Farmer] seduces with sensitive texts, almost surreal, tenderly erotic" (Le Télégramme).Le Télégramme, 16 April 1986 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 25 March 2008)

Commercial performance In France, Cendres de lune charted for the first time in April 1989, after the success of the second album, Ainsi soit je.... It peaked at number 39.

Track listing

Personnel

Produced by Laurent Boutonnat Recorded and mixed by Jean-Claude Déquéant, except "Tristana" (recorded by Jean-Claude Déquéant and mixed by Thierry Rogen) Assistants: Philippe Laffont, Laurent Lazahie Mastering and engraving: André Perriat Keyboards, synthesizers and acoustic piano: Laurent Boutonnat Guitars: Slim Pezin Saxophone: Alain Matot Drums: Gilles Chamard

Background vocals: Carole Frédéricks, Estella Samantha Radji, Anne-Marie Constant, Yvonne Jones, Les Moines Fous du Tibet Published by Bertrand Le Page/Polygram Music, except "Maman a tort" (Bertrand Le Page Cesanie) and "Greta" (Bertrand Le Page, Movie Box Music) Photograph on first side and in booklet: Laurent Boutonnat, Christophe Mourthe Back cover photograph: Éric Caro Management: Bertrand Le Page Recorded at "Le Matin calme" studio Mixed at Palais des Congrès Studio

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1986)PeakpositionFrench Albums (SNEP)10Chart (1989)PeakpositionFrench Albums (SNEP)39

Year-end charts Chart (1989)PositionFrench Albums (SNEP)98

Releases Date Label Country Format CatalogApril 1986PolydorFranceCD831732-2LP829127-1Cassette831732-4PolydorCanadaLPTFX8720CassettePolydorGermanyLP829127-2April 1987PolydorFranceCD831732-2LP831732-1Cassette831732-41995PolygramFranceCD831732-21998Polygram FranceFranceCD831732-22005PolydorFranceDigital—2006UniversalFranceCD - Digipack982826-32013UniversalFranceLP - Picture Disc (limited edition 2000 copy)374725-7

Formats 12" (first version)1 12" (second version) CD (first edition)1 CD (second edition) Cassette (first edition)1 Cassette (second edition) CD - Digipack (released in 2005) Picture Disc (released in 2013) 1 9 songs, without "Tristana" and the two remixes

References