La Tragédie D’Oreste Et Électre is the high-water mark of Cranes’ work in a specifically high-art realm. Recorded before the release of 1994’s Loved, its release was held up until 1996 due to copyright clearance issues from the estate of French existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre, whose work is used as the album’s lyrics.
Highlights from the release include “Danse D’Electre,” a gentle piece that turns into a haunting wash of ambient sound, and the understated chills of “Au Temple,” one of Shaw’s best vocal turns on the album.
La Tragédie D’Oreste Et Électre is available on vinyl for the first time as a limited edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on crystal clear vinyl. The package includes a 16-page booklet containing all the story notes for the adaptation in both English and French.