William Sheller is a songwriter and classical composer (he wrote soundtracks and ballet music) who isn’t that well known outside of France. He scored some hit singles, but for what I know, even in France he’s a minor celebrity. I first heard of him when someone recommended his first album, 1972’s ‘Lux Aeterna’, as a twin album to Serge’s ‘Melody Nelson’. Choirs! Big orchestra! Religion meets lust! From a review: ‘Sheller conjured up what is at once an over the top symphonic prog epic, but also a strangely meditative operatic chorale, the sound a gorgeous and dizzying fusion of bombastic prog, classical opera, tripped out seventies psych, outsider jazzfunk, and soaring symphonic majesty.’

Recently, a tribute album to Sheller was released, featuring covers by Vincent Delerm, Laura Cahen, Jeanne Cherhal and Marie-Flore. Alas, no one chose one of the songs from Lux Aeterna for the tribute album, but Sheller had other great tracks up his sleeve. Take ‘Vienne’ by Zaho de Sagazan:

Written by guuzbourg

French girls, singing. No, sighing. Making me sigh. Ah.

This article has 1 comments

  1. Sami

    “Un homme heureux” was massive in 1991, and is often covered, even in 2023.