MARAUDE AUTOMNALE

Paskinel is in some ways an offshoot of Alco Frisbass given it is the project of Patrick "Paskinel" Dufour (synthesizer and keyboard, drum programming and composition) and Frédéric "Tourneriff" Chaput (electric guitar, bass guitar, mixing), with the former being a founder of that band and the latter joining in time for the second album. This is brought home even more given that the other member of that outfit, Fabrice Chouette, guests on the first track providing organ. There are a few guests on that opening track, which arguably is the most Canterbury sounding of them all, while throughout the album RPI is also present, plus some RIO. Dufour composed all eight tracks, and the result is something which feels very heavily entrenched in the Seventies, with Camel and Andy Latimer definitely providing some of the influences, which given Dufour is a keyboard player is somewhat surprising. He uses some wonderful old sounds to provide a basis for others to often take the lead, with Dag-Z's transverse flute on the second track being a delight.

This never feels like a modern release but instead is rooted in old Hammonds and feels warm and inviting due to that. The guitar can be blustering or meandering, while I must confess the drumming is so good on this that I was surprised to realise it is was programmed as it actually sounds like a proper drummer. It is an album that repays repeated listenings as it is only then that the layers become fully apparent and the inherent joy becomes audible. This is very definitely a grower, and if someone has told me this was a long lost delight from 50 years ago I would have believed them, as it this certainly never sounds as if it is coming to us from 2023. It is an instrumental album where one never feels the need for vocals as the songs have plenty going on within them, yet it never feels crowded or rushed but instead has been well-constructed and arranged. It may take us back in time but also feels very much for today.

4.5 stars. PASKINEL is the solo project of one Patrick Dufour who's nickname happens to be Paskinel. He's brought along one of his ALCO FRISBASS members Frederic Chaput making this a duo with six guests helping out. The third member of ALCO FRISBASS Fabrice Chouette guests on one track playing organ. We also get lap steel, sax, violin, flute and bassoon from the guests.

ALCO FRISBASS released three studio albums and I feel each album was not as good as the previous one. So yes their debut is the one for me, and this PASKINEL album does rival it. I love how uniform it is with really just that one track "L'echo Noir" sounding somewhat different with the guest bassoon and violin. There is so much going on with each track. Tons of sounds. Dufour playing electric piano, organ and synths, while Chaput adds guitar and bass. There is distortion in those organ sounds at times bringing Canterbury to mind once in a while.

This is all instrumental and we get eight tracks worth 50 minutes. So many keyboard sounds here, it's awesome! My favourite song is the title track. Such a warm sound as we get electric piano, bass and beats. Guitar joins in then Canterbury organ around 2 1/2 minutes. The bass here and throughout is really good. Upfront and dirty. Mellotron too at times like at 5 1/2 minutes on here. "Belle En Tete" opens with a bass line as electric piano joins in then organ. This sounds great, and we get guitar a couple of times later on.

My second favourite track is that one that is a little different "L'echo Noir". It's the bassoon that brings the darkness while violin, upfront bass and electric piano lead the way. Love this track! Very RIO sounding as in UNIVERS ZERO. Nasty bass 3 minutes in and I like when the tempo picks up late with guitar. "One O'clock" might be the shortest piece on here but it sure has plenty of energy. That second track needs to be mentioned "Tartempion" with the guest flute and Canterbury organ later on. But it's the mesh of sounds all working together that is so impressive. So much going on.

This will go down as a top ten for 2023 in my musical world. And my favourite when including the three albums by the parent band ALCO FRISBASS. Not sure about that cover art though.