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Bertrand Burgalat is perhaps THE most critically-acclaimed composer/arranger/producer in France, and Hit Thing is honored to announce the international release of Burgalat's fourth full-length release, Portrait-Robot. Recorded in 2004 in Berlin and Paris, Portrait-Robot is a journey into the center of the mind of one of France's most important and controversial contemporary artists. Burgalat is world-renowned for his elaborate and sophisticated productions, for his Parisian label empire Tricatel, as well as working with artists such as Depeche Mode, Einstürzende Neubauten, Pizzicato Five, Laibach, Mick Harvey, Ladytron, Michel Houellebecq and Air. However, Portrait-Robot represents a significant shift from Bertrand's past musical endeavors, leaving listeners amazed at the scale of personal exploration and musical diversity. Portrait-Robot features stunning lyrics written by Alfreda Benje, aka Alfie. It also features gorgeous texts by Tricatel's own chanteuse April March. Many unusual guests appear, in addition to longtime collaborators Toby Dammit, Peter von Poehl and Dana Schechter. The musical dynamic is grand, layered in psychedelic extremes, subtle disco humor, dreamy bliss atmospheres, and moments of dire self-evaluation and confession. Portrait-Robot's unique album cover features a genuine "criminal" composite sketch of Bertrand produced by agents of the French equivalent of the FBI, based only on a physical description by novelist Elisabeth Barillé. Together, the combination of Burgalat's eye and brain medical scans, introspective lyrics, and a completely unparalleled approach to songwriting, recording and mixing, gives the listener an unusually rare focus on an artist. Hit Thing has packaged a deluxe edition of Portrait-Robot. The CD features a double fold-out digi-pack with 24-pages of lyrics and an artwork booklet, as well as two bonus tracks and an animated video for "Spring Isn't Fair," all of which aren't available in the French edition. For the vinyl collectors, Hit Thing will also release a double-gatefold LP edition pressed on 150 gram vinyl.
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