The Real Zenogram, an enigmatic songwriter from Norwich, makes his long-awaited streaming debut with "Mirabeau," a song that sounds both old and new. It takes Guillaume Apollinaire's 1913 French poem Le Pont Mirabeau and gives it new life with rich layers of old synthesizers, sad electronics, and soft guitar sounds.
"Mirabeau" was first made in Milan in the early 1990s, when the cassette 4-track was popular. It has been waiting decades to be released. The sounds it makes, Korg M1 atmospheres, Behringer RD-9 rhythms, Arturia analog warmth, and the sad twang of a '90s Fender Stratocaster, make it feel like a lost gem from the golden age of experimental, textural pop. But the song sounds great thanks to modern production and mastering at London's AIR Studios, which makes it feel like it came from both the past and the present.
"Mirabeau" is its own thing, but listeners will hear echoes of Peter Gabriel's adventurous soundscapes, The Cure's sad music from the time of their breakup, and Kate Bush's literary sensibility. The song's thrilling, striking quality pulls you into Apollinaire's thoughts on love, loss, and the passage of time without ever feeling too heavy. People have already called the song "dark," "cinematic," and "hypnotic," which shows how well it combines mood and melody with literary inspiration.
The Real Zenogram's first album feels like the culmination of a lifetime spent seeking the perfect balance between poetry and sound. "Mirabeau" is more than just a release, it's a daydream, a glimpse of an artist's early vision finally coming to life, and a reminder that some songs are worth waiting 30 years for.