Par Hasard by Mikado

Forever (TWI 106) is an anthology by Mikado, the French synth pop duo featuring Pascale Borel and Gregori Czerkinsky.

As well as cult debut single Par Hasard, issued by Crépuscule in 1982, the remastered collection includes subsequent singles Un Naufrage en Hiver, Carnaval and La Fille du Soleil, as well as eponymous debut album 'Mikado' from 1985, executive produced by Haruomi Hosono of Yellow Magic Orchestra.

Bonus tracks include b-sides, jingles and several demo songs for an unfinished second album. There is also an English-language version of Par Hazard (Romance), Christmas album track Noel Sous le Soleil, plus a previously unreleased cover version of Night of the Hunter.

Reviews:

"The lush, kitsch Pierre et Gilles artwork here perfectly complements Mikado's electronic stylings, which sound like they relied on Casio keyboard preset rhythm patterns and chord generators. There's abundant charm in this collection's gentle and romantic sound and the vocals of Pascale Borel. Mikado were fully committed to creating a sweet world of French chanson where irony is airbrushed in and out of focus, and erupts into bouncy trashy pop like Les Fleurs de L'Ete on the turn of a sixpence" (Electronic Sound, 2017)

"Forever begins with Par Hasard, their wonderful first single and signature tune. Czerkinsky's pretty keyboards and Borel's eloquent air reminiscent of Francoise Hardy, France Gall and Brigitte Bardot made this a cult classic. Their 1984 single Un Naufrage en Hiver was their first studio liaison with Haruomi Hosono and signalled Mikado's move towards a more punchier pop sound while still retaining their inherent elegance. While not massive selling, their cocktail electro template no doubt inspired Nouvelle Vague, and Forever provides an interesting snapshot of French new wave pop and updated ye-ye" (The Electricity Club, 2017)

Tracklist

1.	Par Hasard	4:30

2.	Au Jeu du Mikado	2:13

3.	Ce Garçon-là	2:56

4.	Noël Sous le Soleil	4:27

5.	Night of the Hunter	4:27

6.	Romance	4:32

7.	Les Enfants du Pirée	4:02

8.	Mikado Saxo	2:16

9.	L'ile Sauvage	1:39

10.	L'amour est un Peu Fragile	5:01

11.	En Sourient	2:28

12.	La Fille du Soleil	3:59

13.	Carnaval	4:54

14.	Emma et Vienna	3:23

15.	L'Arc en Ciel	4:21

16.	C'est le Vent	2:57

17.	La Tour Eiffel	1:13

18.	Mikado Game	2:16

19.	La Sardine	0:10

Credits

released March 7, 2025

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