QUADRA SPHERIUM

When I see a bassist fronting an album, I tend to get emotionally invested, as there is no lingering doubt that the low-end monster can be a major source of inspiration. Antoine Fafard has carved out quite the career and reputation, having been part of Quebec-based band Spaced Out and eventually branching out into a solo career that is running strong. Antoine is a sensational technician but also plays with penetrating emotional intensity, elevating his craft to the highest levels of bass domination. He has also mastered electric guitar as well as keyboards. His previous offering "Perpetual Mutations" last year was a stunning collaboration with the legendary drummer Gavin Harrison, who needs zero introduction. So much for letters of noblesse! On this new album, Gary Husband takes over the percussive chores with his usual impeccable flair, while longtime Fafard collaborator JP Zanella displays his brassy saxophone whenever a composition needs a 'voice'. Ten prime tracks are offered and here are the highlights:

From the humongous opening barrage justly named "The Fifth Damnation", the Zanella sax duels with Fafard's blistering axe work, a highly lubricated, no holds barred rampage that seeks to percolate the senses into a heady brew. Somewhat more reflective is his bass work on the ever escalating "Mount Improbable" which dares to add some spectacular Spanish guitar to the ascending climb into the rarified air. Combine this with an equally Latin flavoured saxophone blast and you get the message, let us not omit to mention Husband percussing like a madman.

The bass guitar stream on "Flow" is extremely technical, a dexterous ramble that defies proper description, certainly closer to a torrent than a pastoral brook, the drum work highly stimulating as the impossible lead guitar does some Holdsworthian spirals that are otherworldly. More brassy reflections add to the stimulus. Contrast that with the sedate "Quadrivium" , a jazzier mood piece that features a geometric bass solo that stamps the crimson wax on the qualifications for bass greatness. Hints of Percy Jones and the great Jaco, but Fafard is definitely in a league of his own. Zanella provides the impetus to accelerate briefly into turbo charged fury, before gearing down into cruise control.

The intricate tingling onset of "Moebius Loop" intoxicates with surrealistic textures, deeply burgeoning variations, steeped in experimental jazz exploration. A mid-section platform guitar platform winks at vintage Summers-Fripp realms, where criss-crossing riffs are sliced open by sheer saxophone frenzy. Once again needing to be reiterated, Gary Husband displays both flawless stick technique and maverick inspiration on his kit. Divergence is now a necessity and the acoustic shuffle on "Paraorbital Vision" works like a charm, deflecting towards energetic encounters with trembling notes, Fafard's guitar doing scorching damage, while Zanella seeks to soothe the burn.

The general style is heavy jazz-rock fusion, so any Mahavishnu Orchestra influence should be par for the course, as "Flying Ocean" and "Transmuted Reality" showcase both sonic extremes made legendary by that combo. The elaborate acoustic guitar sections will definitely remind one of the classic jazz-rock pioneers (John and Al), the brass parts adding the needed "voice".

Right away or "Tout de Suite" in French, is the longest track here , clocking in over 8 minutes+ and as befits an epic composition, the pace is first set into motion and will evolve according to the trio's inspiration. What is remarkable about this production is that all three musicians have overtly equal playing time, no one hogging the spotlight, so that indulgence is never an issue. Locked in, inspired and focused. Yes, it is definitely challenging and demanding, though never coming across as a showing-off display of chopzilla. Having witnessed live a world class bassist who drew booing and insults for his pedantic performance, full of ego and utter fluff, I surely recognize egotistical tendencies. There are absolutely none here. In fact, Fafard's talent on guitars is surely worth the price of admission, as I have rarely encountered such a phenomenon, going from 4 to 6 strings with such audacious brilliance.

A contemplative finale, "De Natura Deorum" perfectly encompasses the previous set-list as it explores all the attributes that this trio possesses in spades (as well, as diamonds, clubs and hearts). When the urge to be sonically stimulated by an awe-inspiring crew comes along, this release will come as a blessing without any camouflage or window dressing. Just plain old fashioned blow out of the highest order.

4,.5 square globes

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