Avant que l'ombre...

"Avant que l'ombre" marked Farmer's longest break between studio albums, following "Innamoramento" by exactly six years. As such, the album was, perhaps, the most anticipated of her career. {{Editorializing|date=April 2024}}Rumours of the disc began circulating in 2003 when it was revealed that Universal was planning a new release of Farmer for the fourth quarter; however the project turned out to be Farmer's second remix album. By the end of 2004, Universal's President Pascal Nègre confirmed that Farmer would release an album in the following months, stating then that it would be a double album. Persistent rumours continued to circulate including the possibility of duets with artists such as Benjamin Biolay, Diam's and Lara Fabian.Star Academy, May 2002, "Quand Fabian rencontre Farmer..." [https://web.archive.org/web/20220405013824/http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2002/Star_academy_052002.jpg Devant-soi.com] (Retrieved 22 March 2008)

In December 2004,"Platine", 2005, "Mylène Farmer — L'intimité dans l'immensité" [https://web.archive.org/web/20220405013823/http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2005/platine_6.jpg Devant-soi.com] (Retrieved 20 March 2008) Farmer held a major press conference with longtime collaborator Laurent Boutonnat in which she confirmed the upcoming release of the album, including the title, and announced a series of concerts to coincide at Paris Bercy. After several postponements, the album's release was pinned for 4 April 2005. Contrary to Nègre's previous comments, the album was a single disc with 14 titles, which remains the largest number of songs on a Farmer album, and an additional hidden track entitled "Nobody Knows". On this album, Farmer abandoned the American musicians who had previously worked with her since Anamorphosée, and reunited with several musicians with whom she had worked in her early career.L'Intégrale Mylene Farmer, Erwan Chuberre, 2007, City Ed., p. 47-49 ({{ISBN|978-2-35288-108-7}})

The digipack version, first limited to 2,000 units, is composed of the CD and a DVD containing the making-of of the music video for "Fuck Them All" with commentaries by director Augustin Villaronga. The album was produced in a triptych version, with a central section that unfolds itself in the shape of a cross to discover the booklet in which the order of the lyrics is not the same as that of the songs. The refrain's lyrics of the eponymous song is put forward within the digipack. The various photographs of the booklet were directed by Dominique Isserman,"Platine", No. 121 [https://web.archive.org/web/20220405013823/http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2005/platine_121_p2.jpg Devant-soi.com] (Retrieved 20 March 2008) and cost about 85,000 euros.Mylène Farmer, le culte — L'envers du décor, Sophie Khairallah, 2007, Why Not Ed., p. 58 Isserman also made the cover's photo, on which Farmer appears lengthened, "asleep as Sleeping Beauty on an ochre and shades of red background". Around the neck, she is wearing a cross made with two matches.Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer, Benoît Cachin, 2006, Tournon Ed., p. 48

On 28 March, a competition organized by the NRJ radio allowed the winners to listen to the album in its entirety alongside Pascal Nègre and Mylène Farmer.Mylène Farmer, le culte — L'envers du décor, Sophie Khairallah, 2007, Why Not Ed., p. 99 The Virgin megastore and the Fnac ot{{Clarify|date=March 2016}} the Champs ElyséesL'Humanité, 4 April 2005, "La femme du jour: Mylène Farmer", Anne-Sophie Stamane [https://web.archive.org/web/20220405013824/http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2005/L'humanite_04042005.jpg Devant-soi.com] (Retrieved 20 March 2008) also organized a special deal with album's sales after midnight. The album was released twice: first on 4 April in the collector version, and then on 18 April in the traditional version for the general public."Avant que l'ombre... Nouvelle énigme Farmer" [https://web.archive.org/web/20220405013824/http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2005/mih_341_01.04.2005.jpg Devant-soi.com] (Retrieved 20 March 2008)

The album was supported by a series of 13 concerts at Paris-Bercy in January 2006.

According to Laurent Boutonnat, Avant que l'ombre... is more acoustic and electronic than the previous ones he had produced.Ouest-France (Alençon Orne-Est), December 18,19, 2004, "Mylène Farmer annonce son retour", Michel Troadec [http://milenia.ifrance.com/html/of041218.htm Milenia.ifrance.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720154642/http://milenia.ifrance.com/html/of041218.htm |date=20 July 2008 }} (Retrieved 22 February 2008)La Dépêche, 4 April 2005, "Mylène Farmer sort enfin de l'ombre" [https://web.archive.org/web/20220405013824/http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2005/La_depeche_04042005.jpg Devant-soi.com] (Retrieved 20 March 2008) A newspaper said: "The style is the same, but the sounds evolve: more acoustic sounds mixed with electro and keyboards. Farmer sings with a voice more natural than usual".Zoprack, 2005, "Avant que l'ombre" [https://web.archive.org/web/20220405013824/http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2005/inconnu_2005.jpg Devant-soi.com] (Retrieved 20 March 2008){{Better citation needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS).|date=April 2024}} Ouest France stated that the album is "a continuation of the singer's discography", but with a "certain calm in the prose" and a "majority of ballads"."Ouest France", 5 April 2005, "Dans le monde sensuel de Mylène Farmer", Michel Troadec [https://web.archive.org/web/20220405013824/http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2005/Ouest_France_050412.jpg Devant-soi.com] (Retrieved 20 March 2008) In this album, Farmer's voice is "filled with softness and fragility". For one of the first time, she sings in low notes.

On this album, "Boutonnat opens his production to new instruments": the clarinet (on "Redonne-moi") and the vibraphone (on "Avant que l'ombre...")."Mylène Farmer, l'icône", Jukebox, n°253, p. 8 [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2008/02-2008-JUKEBOX-N253-5.jpg Devant-soi.com]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (Retrieved 13 May 2008)

The album deals with the "apprehension of a woman facing the death with after all the satisfaction to have loved". It mainly talks of sex, death and religion."Mylène Farmer fidèle à elle-même", 5 April 2005, Sébastien Catroux [https://web.archive.org/web/20220405013823/http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2005/actu01_050405.jpg Devant-soi.com] (Retrieved 20 March 2008) The lyrics are "slightly disturbing", "sometimes important", and there is some "humor"."Chanson — La Fée Mylène", 5 May 2005 [https://web.archive.org/web/20220405013823/http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2005/ml_05052005.jpg Devant-soi.com] (Retrieved 20 March 2008) About the album content, Farmer said: "I very selfishly continue to talk about me, my shadows, my lights".Télé Cable Satellite No. 769, 24 January 2005, "Un nouvel album après 5 ans de silence — Mylène Farmer sort de l'ombre" [http://milenia.ifrance.com/html/tc769myl.htm Milenia.ifrance.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723175511/http://milenia.ifrance.com/html/tc769myl.htm |date=23 July 2008 }} (Retrieved 22 February 2008)TV Hebdo, 2 January 2005, "Et Mylène a souri..." [https://web.archive.org/web/20220405013824/http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2005/Tv_Hebdo_020105.jpg Devant-soi.com] (Retrieved 20 March 2008)

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The journalist Benoît Cachin considered that Avant que l'ombre... was less sophisticated than Farmer's previous albums. He said that among the subjects tackled are religion, literature, sexuality, a hope for a better life, a happy love, revolt, dream and self-mockery. Although he deemed the album "consistent and uniform", he added that it is confusing due to the "particularly abstruse" lyrics, including many puns and literary references unknown to the general public.

Some critics thought the album did not contain any big surprises: "Farmer's voice is still light, fragile, sometimes quavering" to better evoke emotion. The piano gives the tempo but the strings dominate to create "a labyrinthine atmosphere". Caroline Bee believes that the album is too similar to the previous ones and lacks innovation.Mylène Farmer — La part d'ombre, Caroline Bee, Antoine Bioy & Benjamin Thiry, 2005, Archipel Ed., p. 369 The album is a "distressing repetition of her old hits" (Actu02).Actu02, 5 April 2005 [https://web.archive.org/web/20220405013824/http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2005/actu02_050429.jpg Devant-soi.com] (Retrieved 20 March 2008) "Disappointing", with "ethereal chords", "songs stretched and similar" (Télé Star).Télé Star, 5 May 2005 [https://web.archive.org/web/20220405013824/http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2005/actu02_050518.jpg Devant-soi.com] (Retrieved 20 March 2008) "Her album is not revolutionary. (...) Certain chords are even fuddy-duddy. (...) A mixed success" (Télé 2 Semaines).Télé 2 Semaines, 25 April 2005, "Mylène Farmer sort de l'album" [https://web.archive.org/web/20220405013824/http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2005/tele_2_semaine_250405.jpg Devant-soi.com] (Retrieved 20 March 2008) "Nothing is very surprising nor really new. Always this voice on the wire, at the edge of the crack. Always this dark romanticism bathed in mystical, erotic, and morbid image more or less woolly" (Le Journal du dimanche).Le Journal du dimanche, January 2006, "Avant que l'ombre...", Éric Mandel [https://web.archive.org/web/20220405013824/http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2006/le_journal_du_dimanche_012006.jpg Devant-soi.com] (Retrieved 23 March 2008)

According to Rolling Stone, this album has a "great sweetness" but "ultimately suffers from a major flaw: it is the sixth album of an artist from whom everyone expects too much".Rolling Stone, March 2005 On the whole, the album was well received in the media, particularly by the French newspaper Le Monde which stated: "The singularity of the musical and thematic universe of Mylène Farmer, is not overturned, but refined. (...) The whole aims to a luminous power. (...) [In the lyrics], Mylène Farmer is calmer, almost beaming, melancholy with a smile". Voici qualified Avant que l'ombre... as an "intimate album" and underlined the "quality of the lyrics".

The album was rewarded with the title "Best Album of the Year" in 2005 at NRJ Music Awards.

In France, Avant que l'ombre... became the singer's fifth number-one album, debuting atop the French Albums Chart with nearly 150,000 (Gold) units sold in the first week."Platine", No. 121, p.11 [https://web.archive.org/web/20220405013824/http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2005/platine_121_p11.jpg Devant-soi.com] (Retrieved 20 March 2008) Although Farmer did not promote the album, it remained at number one for three non-consecutive weeks, alternating with Grégory Lemarchal's album, Je deviens moi. Avant que l'ombre... logged in more than two months in the top ten, and 23 consecutive weeks in the top 50 before sliding down the chart later in autumn, which partially resulted from the six-month difference between the release of the second and the third singles. It re-entered in the top 20 in January after an intense advertising campaign, an interview on TF1 and the concerts at Bercy. The album ultimately logged a total of 77 weeks on the album chart."Avant que l'ombre...", French Albums Chart [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Myl%E8ne+Farmer&titel=Avant+que+l%27ombre%2E%2E%2E&cat=a Lescharts.com] (Retrieved 1 February 2008) In spite of a good chart trajectory, the album did not reach the sales of Farmer's previous studio albums, which were all million plus sellers in France. The album was certified Platinum,Mylène Farmer certifications [https://archive.today/20121220191850/http://www.chartsinfrance.net/certifications/artiste-850.html Chartsinfrance.net] (Retrieved 1 February 2008) then Double platinum on 6 July 2006.{{cite web |title=Certifications Albums Double Platine - année 2006 |url=http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/pag-259165-CERTIFICATIONS.html?year=2006&type=13 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102104905/http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/pag-259165-CERTIFICATIONS.html?year=2006&type=13 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 January 2013 |publisher=Disqueenfrance |language=fr |access-date=9 August 2010 }} It was the eighth best-selling album of 2005 in France.2005 French Albums Chart [http://www.ifop.com/europe/sondages/DISCANNU/albums05.stm Ifop.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207014024/http://www.ifop.com/europe/sondages/discannu/albums05.stm |date=7 December 2008 }} (Retrieved 1 February 2008)

In Belgium (Wallonia), the album also debuted at number one on 16 April and remained there for six consecutive before being dislodged by Raphaël's Caravane. The album remained in the top ten for fourteen consecutive weeks. As in France, the album experienced a resurgence, thought less pronounced, in early 2006."Avant que l'ombre...", Belgian (Wallonia) Albums Chart [https://www.ultratop.be/fr/album/4261/Mylene-Farmer-Avant-que-l'ombre... Ultratop.be] (Retrieved 1 February 2008) The album logged a total of 31 non-consecutive weeks on the Belgium album chart and was certified Gold album.Mylène Farmer's album certification [http://www.ultratop.be/fr/weekchart.asp?year=2005&date=20050416&cat=a Ultratop.be] (Retrieved 1 February 2008) The album ranked number five on the 2005 year-end chart.2005 Belgian Albums Chart [http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2005&cat=a Skynet.be] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224160435/http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2005&cat=a |date=24 December 2008 }} (Retrieved 1 February 2008)

In Switzerland, the album debuted at number two on 17 April, then dropped quickly and fell off the top 100 after 11 weeks."Avant que l'ombre...", Swiss Albums Chart [http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Myl%E8ne+Farmer&titel=Avant+que+l%27ombre%2E%2E%2E&cat=a Hitparade.ch] (Retrieved 1 February 2008)

In non-Francophone Belgium (Flanders), the album had a peak at number 48 on 23 April 2005."Avant que l'ombre...", Belgian (Flanders) Albums Chart [https://www.ultratop.be/nl/album/4261/Mylene-Farmer-Avant-que-l'ombre... Ultratop.be] (Retrieved 1 February 2008)

¹ Hidden song

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=album|title=Avant que l'ombre...|artist=Mylène Farmer|award=Gold|certyear=2005|relyear=2005}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=album|title=Avant que l'ombre|artist=Mylène Farmer|award=Platinum|number=2|source=archive|certyear=2006|certmonth=6|relyear=2005|access-date=November 24, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Russia|type=album|title=Avant que l'ombre...|artist=Mylène Farmer|award=Platinum|certyear=2005|relyear=2005}}

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|salesamount=800,000|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.mylene.net/presse/presse2008/mylene-farmer_presse_sud-ouest_23-08-2008.jpg|title=Nouvel album pour Mylène Farmer|work=Sud Ouest|date=23 August 2008|access-date=7 February 2018|language=fr}}|nocert=yes}}

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; CD

• Words: Mylène Farmer
• Music: Laurent Boutonnat
• Except "L'amour n'est rien..." : Music: Laurent Boutonnat & Mylène Farmer
• Produced by Laurent Boutonnat
• Mixed by Jérôme Devoise
• Sound:Jérôme Devoise
• Programmation, keyboards, arrangement: Laurent Boutonnat
• Guitars: Philippe Paradis
• Except "Ange, parle-moi" and "Et Pourtant..." : Jean-Marie Ecay
• Bass: Philippe Chayed
• Drums: Loïc Pontieux
• Piano ("Ange, parle-moi" and "Et Pourtant...") : Yvan Cassar
• Cello ("Derrière les fenêtres") : Jean-Philippe Audin
• Clarinet ("Redonne-moi") : Jérôme Devoise
• Percussion and xylophone: Pol Ramirez del Piu

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• Strings arrangement: Jean-Jacques Charles and Graham Preskett
• Vocals: Mylène Farmer
• Studio: Guillaume Tell
• Assistant: Tristan Monrocq
• Mastering: André Perriat and Bruno Gruel for Top Master
• Management: Thierry Suc for TS3
• Executive production: Paul van Parys for Stuffey Monkey
• Assistant of Mylène Farmer: Brigitte Gautier
• Assistant of Laurent Boutonnat: Emiline Chetaud
• Administration: Corinne Potier
• Photos: Dominique Issermann
• Design: Henry Neu for Com'N.B

; DVD "Fuck Them All"

• Video directed by Agustin Villaronga
• Making of by: François Hanss
• Produced by: Stuffed Monkey

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• CD
• CD — Digipack ¹
• Collector casket — Format 12" - Limited edition (5,000) ¹
• Double 12" ²
• CD — Taïwan
• CD — Japan ³
• CD — Promo — Japan ⁴
• Cassette ⁵

¹ + 1 DVD containing the video and the making of of "Fuck Them All"

² Near the centering of one of the two vinyls is engraved the phrase "Quel talent Lolo, vingt ans après", in reference to Laurent Boutonnat

³ "Nobody Knows" features as 15th track and its lyrics are available in the booklet

⁴ "Nobody Knows" features as 15th track

⁵ Not contains "Nobody Knows"

{{Reflist}}

{{Mylène Farmer}}

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Category:2005 albums

Category:Mylène Farmer albums

Category:Polydor Records albums