BERNARD FALAISE

— First review of this album —

A very interesting proposition from Bernard Falaise (of Miriodor fame) - a Canadian guitarist who clearly likes to experiment and think outside the box.

As the title sugests, Falaise goes solo on this record, utilising nothing more than an electric guitar and (I suspect) an army of effects. The results steer more towards experimental/electronic/sound design territories, rather than quirky rock, or even avant-garde. There's a lot of brutal, angular, but oh so crispy sounds to behold here! I like to call this type of music "ear candy" - it is not so much about melodies, harmonies or even compositions; it's all about all the different timbres and colors one instrument can create.

This record is not for everyone, no doubt; but if you enjoy experimental music/unconventional guitar usage/ideas that frown upon anything conventional - give this record a try. I'm quite happy I did!

3.5 stars really!!

Among the many records Bernard Falaise recorded for the Ambiance Magnetique label, he generally took care of doing things musically very different than Miriodor, the group he joined in the mid-90's, but here with Clic, for some reasons, he chose to make some heavy hints in Clic. Again a clever all-cardboard sleeve depicting rough and greasy drawings of machines, the music is definitely more accessible (read melodic and rhythmic) than usual. The first few tracks are reminiscent of bigger Miriodor (there are four brass players as guests), evoking the Klezmer-Manouche music of his main group, while the next few are more experimental, slightly dissonant, but nothing a "normal person" couldn't deal with. Bernard plays all guitars, bass, keyboards, percussion instruments (except Marimba and drums) and "devices & manipulations" and buddy Derome plays saxes and flutes. The tracks are being kept fairly short (between one and five minutes, bar Neuf which clocks at seven and a half), in the Miriodor fashion and are all named by four-letter words, bar Tricheur, which does exactly that: cheater. There are moments of pure beauty (the groove of Lime) or grace (the succession of dissonant passages interrupted by pure symphonic lines ala Anglagard of Tour), and Falaise's electric guitar interventions can resemble some early Frippian solos.

Clic (add a "k" for the English translation) is definitely one of the more accessible AM label releases and if you're into Mirodor (one could even go as far as saying that this prefigures Miriodor's Avanti album), this album is right up your alley. Easily Ambiance Magnetique's best album in their catalogue since the early Wondeur Brass albums. Electric and eclectic, slightly whacky and definitely worth the detour.

— First review of this album —

Another collab between two Ambiance Magnétique pillars, Bernard Falaise (guitar and electronics) and Pierre Tanguay (drums), The Unexpected One is unfortunately all too expected or predictable. Billed as Vancouver meets Montreal, Samworth and VanderSchijf are the home team (album recorded in Vancouver), with the former on guitar (and electronics) and the latter on drums; but the album was "commercialized via the AM label), which means that the home advantage is annulled. Don't even look into Miriodor's music to see how Falaise 's music might still have a bridge between the two realms. With such equivalent armed forces, it is rather evident a draw will occur and most likely a goalless one for the average listener. Btw, despite allowing fights, there are no guns in this gentlemen's bout, despite the fact that you may just hear what sounds like muffled gunshots. If I speak of gentleman, it is because they invited Josiane Hétu (another AM pillar) for added production and help on the weird all- cardboard sleeve. . The result is a cross between dissonant and atonal improvised music and "musique concrete", which means that if you're familiar with the Montreal label, this is a typical AM album. One warned progheads is better than two un-warned. Despite having two drummers, there is not a hint of usable rhythm pattern anywhere on the disc, except for one track. Despite having two guitars, there is not even a hint of usable melody anywhere in this album either, except for one track. You're just left with free-form music that is relatively hard to follow all the way to the end of the album, despite its reasonable length. The general ambiance on Unexpected one is almost the same than on Les Poules, except for one track. Just in case you're wondering? I listened a second time to the almost-18mins Pink Crimson track (for obvious reasons, right?? ;-))), and it bears some King Floyd, traits maybe to the Providence Saucerful Of Secret., and some slightly Frippian guitars. Easily the album's best track Cased closed!!!

Soooooo, you're wondering who won, right??? The Cannucks or the Canadiens??? Hockey is an unfair game sometimes, no winners, only draws and one loser?. The listener. Don't say I didn't warn you!

— First review of this album —

This is maybe the more original solo work of Miriodor's Nernard Falaise's solo works. According to the liner notes, every single sound on this album comes from his guitars, electric or acoustic. No percussions, no bass, no keys. And this time, when we say solo work, it is indeed solo work. Just Falaise on top of the cliff. ;o)) (sorry, couldn't resist). An all-cardboard sleeve with an all-cardboard slip-case depicting technical aspects of guitar playing: definitely Ambiance Magnétique label product.

The opening La Vie Sur Mars is a rather loud guitar track, but it is also one of the most accessible one on the album. The third track Page Arrachée (torn page) features a caboose (a Malgache ukulele) and Entonnoir (funnel) is the album-longest track, but none of these provide much enthusiasm, even if the album is rarely dissonant, and perhaps the most accessible solo works of his. Drones, feedbacks, scratching, detuning, scrapings, tapping, slapping, finger-picking, stretching, squeezing, bending are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of torture Bernard has for his guitars, and no doubt Fred Frith is listening somewhere across the pond.

Well, I can't tell you that this album is the next wonder, but it certainly has got its interesting moments and can even be entertaining when in the right mood, but certainly not an album to get frisky with the lover.