PLEIN SOLEIL

This is the debut and only album by French electronic music composer Jonathan Fitoussi (b. 1978). According to his web page he "is engaged in practices of analog and modular synthesis, projects supported by the pioneers of electronic music like Suzanne Ciani and Morton Subotnick", and his CV includes cinematic scores and collaborations with e.g. The Paris Opera and the world of fashion. He also has composed for several bands and is a co-founder of a French record label.

Plein Soleil is entirely played by Fitoussi (Buchla, Synthi, Moog, Pro-One, Cristal Baschet, piano, organ, bass). There are nine pieces of a fairly regular length, from three to almost seven minutes. The opening track 'Oceans' is slow-paced, calm and spacey ambient music, a meditative and very even sound texture. 'Rayons Solaires' has bright, high-toned notes bouncing on the pulsative bottom pattern, in a purely digital, cold atmosphere. 'Continent Blanc' is again slow ambient but with a wider sonic dynamics than on the first track. The listener can just let his/her whole consciousness float upon the music.

The 48-minute album continues in the meditative style balancing between slow, vast spaceyness and the bright, crystalline sounds creating a computer-like mood. I guess the terrible term New Age would fit here: the music functions as a canvas for the listener's inner visions, as a hypnotic sonic universe to dive into. But in comparison to the more typical New Age / Relaxation Music which can feel very calculated and clichéd, Fitoussi delivers more original and experimental ambient soundscapes. On tracks such as 'Amazonie' synths are used for creating a sense of hand percussion.

Ambient oriented electronic artists such as STEVE ROACH, ROBERT RICH, CONSTANCE DEMBY and NIK TYNDALL could be mentioned as musical references. This is a deep spirited and well produced album with no bad tracks per se, but I personally miss some more melodic approach thrown in the predominantly meditative music. Because none of the tracks really sticks out as an emotionally moving highlight, I'll round my 3½ stars down.