Raphaël passed away Sunday morning, May 7th, at the home of his family in Paris, France.

He had that special light that could brighten any dark corner. It's a rare thing in this world and a great gift. Rest in peace my friend....

You are walking in this very large space. It’s so majestic that you can’t close your eyes, you have to swallow what you see, you have to breathe it in and make it yours. It’s your joy, it’s your moment of gentle bliss, one of these instants where nothing matters because you are touching eternity. Maybe it’s the middle of a very shiny day, maybe the sky is sprinkled with lots of little clouds, maybe the clouds are huge and crossing all over it, maybe it’s sunset time with orange and pink, or maybe you are walking under a starry night. A fresh breeze brushes the grass and the trees that surround you. The mountains are huge. They seem so close and still so far to reach. You are so small in that valley, but still you are here. And life is ultra good…

The calm of the scene is carrying you. So much that you start wondering why you are living this by yourself, with no one else. You have done many things with others in your life, maybe you even had the chance to meet the one love of your life. But here, you are not sharing this special moment with anyone. Are you lonely or just alone ?

Life is a voyage that, whether we want it or not, we make on our own. From the moment we take our first breath to the one we take our last, it’s nothing else than a constant struggle to face ourselves. We struggle to feel good, to be happy, to achieve things, to make ourselves better, in other words, we face and try to overcome our own nature it seems. All this for what ? We must have a reason, something inscribed within us that tells us how prisoner we are. Something like a desire for eternity. A place where we don’t have to fight who we are anymore, because we are above time, above any condition , we made it to that state where we cannot feel nor be a better person.

The five tunes of this album are the expression of this voyage. And to me,
Manoir de mes reves is the most representative of it. Music takes us to some nice places sometimes, but if this very one can bring you to asking yourself where this voyage is taking you, it will have a great reason to be. For as we all get close to the end, I wish all of you my friends will understand.

I want to say a special thank you to my friend Robb Henry for making this project possible. I also thank our friend Steve Wiese at Creation Audio for all he did for us. Both of you guys have incredible talent. What an honor to work with you two and to count you as my friends !

I also thank all my friends from Minnesota. The past seven years were so great. I have learned so much. And your support and friendship have carried me as far as I can see ! Thank you. I love you all.

I am no space cowboy
But I’m going to the moon
To forever find my joy
Enter the big saloon

And as I am leaving
I see all your smiles
Flowers of my spring
That help me in exile

How I wish I could touch
Give you one last embrace
And tell you how much
I love your smiling face 

And as I say goodbye
Let me tell you again
You need to join my space
If you believe you’ll qualify
And salvation you’ll gain
Receive INFINITE GRACE

                                                                                                                            “All my love”                   Raphaël Fraisse - April 2006