Moulin Noir
Encyclopedia
Moulin Noir is a Swedish
Synthpop
project run by Anders Wikholm. Previously known as Moulin Rogue, Anders changed the name of the band to Moulin Noir having passed posters in Paris
advertising the cabaret Moulin Rouge
, and deciding that it wasn't very 'cool', so changed to Noir.
All of Moulin Noir's lyrics are in English
.
Currently signed to the US Synthpop Record Label, A Different Drum
, Moulin Noir has produced a number of albums and singles, his most famous within the underground Synthpop scene probably being "Spellbound", or "Maria Calling".
sound, using mostly Hardware, Anders dislikes using computers for his music. Having written his own guide on his website on New Romantic
, Anders states, "...you will need at least one analogue synth. Analogue simulating gear will work, but not in all situations. You'll probably need a sampler too. An old 12 bit model will do. ..."
Compiling a rather large list on his website, Anders has written his thoughts on each one, as well as providing a few samples for your own Ensoniq
instrument.
Anders usually performs live with the group Run Level Zero
, and has had his track Spellbound remixed by them.
Moulin Noir is one artist who is not afraid to wail, and is well known at live shows to wear extravagant gothic
clothing and makeup. He is not camera shy, but considers the look as well as the sound to be an important factor in creating New Romantic
music.
I Can't Sleep / I Can't Sleep (Frantically) / Sleepless On The Floorshow / I C-Art, Can't Sleep / Utopia - Here We Come! / This Time
Maria Calling (Radio Edit) / Automation / An Ocean With Seagulls / Maria Calling (Remastered Original / Maria Calling (C-Art Edit) / Maria Calling (Video)
A New Frontier (Single Edit) / A New Frontier (Lo-Fi Disco Mix) / Easier Said Than Done / All You Ever Wanted / A New Frontier (Extended Mix)
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
project run by Anders Wikholm. Previously known as Moulin Rogue, Anders changed the name of the band to Moulin Noir having passed posters in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
advertising the cabaret Moulin Rouge
Moulin Rouge
Moulin Rouge is a cabaret built in 1889 by Joseph Oller, who also owned the Paris Olympia. Close to Montmartre in the Paris district of Pigalle on Boulevard de Clichy in the 18th arrondissement, it is marked by the red windmill on its roof. The closest métro station is Blanche.The Moulin Rouge is...
, and deciding that it wasn't very 'cool', so changed to Noir.
All of Moulin Noir's lyrics are in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
Currently signed to the US Synthpop Record Label, A Different Drum
A Different Drum
A Different Drum is an independent record label and online store based in the US state of Utah, specializing in synthpop and related genres...
, Moulin Noir has produced a number of albums and singles, his most famous within the underground Synthpop scene probably being "Spellbound", or "Maria Calling".
Production
Moulin Noir likes to use old, retro synthesizers to create his unique New RomanticNew Romantic
New Romanticism , was a pop culture movement in the United Kingdom that began around 1979 and peaked around 1981. Developing in London nightclubs such as Billy's and The Blitz and spreading to other major cities in the UK, it was based around flamboyant, eccentric fashion and new wave music...
sound, using mostly Hardware, Anders dislikes using computers for his music. Having written his own guide on his website on New Romantic
New Romantic
New Romanticism , was a pop culture movement in the United Kingdom that began around 1979 and peaked around 1981. Developing in London nightclubs such as Billy's and The Blitz and spreading to other major cities in the UK, it was based around flamboyant, eccentric fashion and new wave music...
, Anders states, "...you will need at least one analogue synth. Analogue simulating gear will work, but not in all situations. You'll probably need a sampler too. An old 12 bit model will do. ..."
Compiling a rather large list on his website, Anders has written his thoughts on each one, as well as providing a few samples for your own Ensoniq
Ensoniq
Ensoniq Corp. was an American electronics manufacturer, best known throughout the mid 1980s and 1990s for its musical instruments, principally samplers and synthesizers.- Company history :...
instrument.
Anders usually performs live with the group Run Level Zero
Run Level Zero
Run Level Zero is a Swedish electro-industrial group formed in January 1999 by Hans Åkerman and Fredrik Solenberg. Current line-up is Hans Åkerman , Ville Hising and Ola Sundell .- 1999 :...
, and has had his track Spellbound remixed by them.
Style
Moulin Noir has remained pretty true to his style since the very first album, What's Up Now? to his final, more polished sounding album Boy In Darkness. Lyrically, the themes of his songs can vary completely, from Over The Wall (a track on the Descending album), a song about himself taking part on a top secret mission, to Media Boy (a track on the Boy In Darkness album), a song about a young male who becomes extremely famous, then the tale of how his career comes crumbling down.Moulin Noir is one artist who is not afraid to wail, and is well known at live shows to wear extravagant gothic
Gothic fashion
Gothic fashion is a clothing style worn by members of the Goth subculture; a dark, sometimes morbid, eroticized fashion and style of dress. Typical Gothic fashion includes dyed black hair, black lips and black clothes. Both male and female goths wear dark eyeliner and dark fingernails. Styles are...
clothing and makeup. He is not camera shy, but considers the look as well as the sound to be an important factor in creating New Romantic
New Romantic
New Romanticism , was a pop culture movement in the United Kingdom that began around 1979 and peaked around 1981. Developing in London nightclubs such as Billy's and The Blitz and spreading to other major cities in the UK, it was based around flamboyant, eccentric fashion and new wave music...
music.
Albums
- What's Up Now? (1993) TERS Records (TERS T-2 CD01)
- Descending (2000) Burning Car (CAR-2)
- The White Room (2001) A Different Drum (ADDCD1098) Remixes and rare tracks
- Boy In Darkness (2004) A Different Drum (ADDCD1119)
EPs
- I Can't Sleep (2000) Burning Car (CAR-1)
I Can't Sleep / I Can't Sleep (Frantically) / Sleepless On The Floorshow / I C-Art, Can't Sleep / Utopia - Here We Come! / This Time
- Maria Calling (2001) Burning Car (CAR-3)
Maria Calling (Radio Edit) / Automation / An Ocean With Seagulls / Maria Calling (Remastered Original / Maria Calling (C-Art Edit) / Maria Calling (Video)
- A New Frontier (2004) A Different Drum (ADDCD1113)
A New Frontier (Single Edit) / A New Frontier (Lo-Fi Disco Mix) / Easier Said Than Done / All You Ever Wanted / A New Frontier (Extended Mix)
Similar musical style to 'Moulin Noir'
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