Midori Takada & Lafawndah – Le Renard Bleu – LP (Etched)

“Le Renard Bleu“, the new musical and cinematic collaboration between Lafawndah and composer Midori Takada, and filmmakers Partel Oliva, takes a cross- generational echo as ground zero for recovering a crucial myth for uncertain times: the blue fox.

The music of “Renard Bleu” originated in Takada‘s preoccupation with the legend of the fox; after constructing a vivid instrumental composition dramatizing the spirit animal’s journeys through waterphone, bells, marimba and various forms of drums, Lafawndah responded – in her inimitable mix of fairytale and undertow– with melodies and lyrics capturing a dialogue between her and the fox himself. Eventually, the duo met in Tokyo for a week of communing with the material at Avaco Creative Studios, where new elements were composed on site.

“Renard Bleu” marks the first new music released by Takada in nearly twenty years; it would be difficult to overstate the importance of her return to the public eye. Her first solo record, 1983’s “Through the Looking Glass“, has been rediscovered and heralded as a lost classic.

Meanwhile, it is Lafawndah’s freedom of tone, decentralized maps of ancient and modern music cultures, and alloying of devotional intensity with modern songcraft casts her as a distinct relative of Midori Takada’s. Over the course of two EPs, self- directed music videos, and countless live performances, Lafawndah has drawn out an uncompromising exploration of how theater, situational intervention, and choreography can amplify the affective palate of forward pop music.

Kenzo/!K7

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