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| ETIENNE JAUMET - Night Music | ||
| 6.9 |
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| Versatile Records ~ VERCD021 ~ 7th December | ||
Jaumet is revealed as one half of Zombie Zombie, who released the enjoyable retro-futuristic album A Land For Renegades several years ago. A rather unusual album this, as most artists update the past and put a new twist on it - yet with Night Music, Jaumet has not only revisited the seventies but decided to make an electronic album in the style of the seventies. Naturally, this means lashings of analogue synthesis and broken down drum rhythms, the overall sound very much in the domain of early synth pioneer Klaus Schulze. In-keeping with the seventies electronic scene’s tendency to make elongated compositions, Night Music opens with the 20-minute For Falling Asleep. Thankfully, this is more interesting than the title suggests, a compulsive slow burner, flush with warbling acid-type electronic sounds and thick synth pads, supplemented by effects and jazzy trumpet. The track is always developing in motion, thus sustaining the listener’s interest; its winding synth lines eventually floating away to be replaced by deep, shadowy Moogs and light acoustic strings. The remaining four tracks are shorter and more direct, enlisting Rhodes keyboard sounds and rudimentary drum machine patterns – slow burning, head-nodding, introspective stuff. Through The Strata has a stronger, steadier beat, overridden by what sounds like creaking bagpipe moans set to all manner of weird frequencies – highly atmospheric, yet curiously unwelcoming. At The Crack Of Dawn closes, reminiscent of Jaumet’s work as one half of Zombie Zombie, producing a maudlin environment via a pulsing electronic bass line and further, this time copious, radio frequencies, injected with brass stabs for another semi-jazz workout. All-in-all, Jaumet has produced an imaginative, dreamy record that works best when left playing in the background on rain-spattered wintery afternoons. |
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