CANEVAS +

Another Ambiance Magnétique label release, and one of the most emblematic one, since this regroups a few of the usual suspects, including Derome, Hetu, Labrosse, D Roger, Tanguay and a few lesser known ones. A typical release of the label in the sense that behind the all- cardboard sleeve, the music is an improvised one based on a canvas and featuring excerpts from five concerts ranging from 98 to 04.

Actually the improvised music dominates the album, but a few of the tracks are also a meeting between written and improvs. In general the music is not very accessible, but this is not one of the label's more difficult projects, since some tracks are sung, some are even jigs (La Pitoune). Other tracks are utterly indefinable and reach nightmarish sonic soundscapes. At other times, the musicians are discussing about pot's legalization over "musique quasi- concrète". One of the album's goal is to pay tribute to La Bolduc (AKA Mary Travers >> not the one of Peter Paul & Mary), but two of the three dedicated tracks have a folk tinge. µ

But most of the time, you'll be soaked into an abyss of atonal notes and dissonant sounds. And when that's not the case, you'll be subjected to atonal sounds and dissonant notes. Same difference if you're not that much a fan (I'm glad I can rent this kind of stuff) as I am. Yes, if you're a fan of experimental and improvised music (to call this album and most AM products rock or RIO might be stretching it a bit), Canevas will be indeed your cup of tea.