Opéra de Nuit only put out three records in the eighties, but that was enough to make them a cult act in coldwave circles. Their sound is exactly what you'd hope for: frigid synths, jangly guitars, and vocals that sound like they're singing from a crypt. This reissue on Dark Entries collects all thirteen tracks from those releases, newly remastered and available on vinyl for the first time since the originals.
"Annabella" is a pummelling standout, all desperation and driving rhythm. "Boris Transylvania Camp" leans into the brooding. "Karen Lloyd" has an elegance that cuts through the gloom. The band came out of Valréas in southeast France, and the recordings span 1984 to 1988, with a few tracks cut at Studio Garage and the rest at ICP. Members Erick Adrien, Jean-François Chaleysin, Franck Adrien, and Richard Fekard handle instruments and vocals, with a guest appearance from Valérie on track 7. The remastering by Anne-Marie Suenram gives everything a clean but not sterile presentation.
If you already know the original EPs and LP, you know how hard they've been to find. If you don't, this is the place to start. It's not for the faint of heart, but that's the point.
