COBRA FAKIR

Miriodor formed in 1980 in Québec City, and have been through some different band formats since then, but are currently a trio comprising founding musicians Pascal Globensky (keyboards, synths, piano) and Rémi Leclerc (drums, percussion, keyboards, turntable) along with longtime member Bernard Falaise (guitars, bass, keyboards, banjo, turntable). Miriodor have long been members of the international RIO movement, but what I find amazing is just how immediate this music is, although it is complex in the extreme and some would find it incredibly challenging. To my ears it is a staccato world where not only am I welcome, but it is somewhere that I want to stay as long as I can.

They have definitely given this album the right title, as a cobra fakir is a snake charmer, who uses carefully concocted melodies to put the mighty reptile into a trance from which there is no escape. That is the same here, as once this hits the player nothing else exists. Imagine Gentle Giant and King Crimson combined at their most eclectic and not allowed out of the studio until they have come up with something that is breathtakingly brilliant, and you may be close to what this is all about. There is no doubt in my ears that this is one of the most important albums ever to come from the wonderful Cuneiform stable and here is something for everyone into RIO, prog, avant music, jazz and/or they have an open mind as to where music can take them. In many ways hard to describe, and definitely hard to ignore, this is a compelling piece of work.

3.5 styars really!!

Yet another line-up change for Miriodor, who reverts (temporarily) to a trio format, but in the studio, it makes little difference as all three members play many different instruments, this time including turntables, though you won't be hearing any hip-hop. However the album's title is somewhat misleading as it could induce one into thinking that the band explored the Asian subcontinent's music. Alas! If there are some Indian music elements, they're probably integrated too subtly for my not-so- inexperienced ears, but AFAIAC, I heard none in this album. Actually, we're heading in the opposite direction from what their previous album, Avanti had led us. Can we talk of a step backwards? Of course not, we are on more familiar grounds than Avanti had us, and one can only regret it.

If the first few numbers hover around the usual Miriodor sonics ("yet again", one could almost say), things are gradually changing with the help of the turntable effects and the overall soundscapes and moods are getting heavier and moodier. By the half of the album, you'll think a few times of Crimson, but it gets even deeper, in a "UZ crossed with Pink-era Tangerine Dream" sense but with that typical Miriodor touch. And what to say of the album's closing piece, which is simply stupendous, almost having you beg for more of the same; while at the album's early stages, you were despairing for something new. While I definitely prefer their previous Avanti, Cobra is certainly one of their better one, but mainly so because of its second half.

MIRIODOR are from Quebec City and are ten studio albums in on an outstanding career. They can almost do no wrong in my world as the only rating less than 4 stars that I've given them was for that self titled album from 1986. I still feel "Rencontres" is their best with "Signal 9" being my favourite of the more modern ones, but it's all good. Down to a trio here from a four piece on the previous album "Avanti!", with each of them being multi-instrumentalists.

This is album number eight from 2013 and we have eleven tracks worth over 50 plus minutes. And it's that section from track four which is the shortest on here called "Paris- Roubaix" to track eight which is the longest called "Tandem" that makes this a four star album for me. They bring it here with some powerful bass and drums while the guitar is very engaging. Included in that five track run is "Titan" which sounds like it has mellotron on it, and it's also the heaviest tune on here. Check out that guitar after 1 1/2 minutes. The next track "Un Cas Siberian" has so much bass to it that my speakers vibrate. Growling at times. Next is "Speed-Dating Sur Mars" with all that atmosphere as keys and drums join in. While that atmosphere does leave, it turns haunting and then piano joins in. It brightens but then returns to the dark side around 5 minutes in.

It's impossible for me to actually rank their albums. They are all just so consistently good, but again "Rencontres" and "Signal 9" stand out for me from the ten releases.