This is a new duo from
France considering Fabrice “Chfab” Chouette and Patrick “Paskinei” Dufour that
started Alco Frisbass two years ago. Their music is this combination between
the Canterbury scene and the Rock in Opposition genre flowing in well together.
And their sole self-titled debut album released this year on the Fading Records
label, is perhaps an adventure from start to finish.
And with guests including
Jacob Holm Lupo of White Willow, Archimede De Martini of Stormy Six, and
Thierry Payssan of Minimum Vital, it is a perfect combination on what to expect
when you listen to the sounds of Alco Frisbass’ music. It’s this mixture
between swarming keyboards with ambient/atmospheric surroundings along with the
textures between Caravan, Gong, Gentle Giant, Soft Machine, and Camel to name a
few by mixing it up and creating this mysterious wonders on what is to come.
Opener, La Suspension Ethereene starts off with a moody/soothing
introduction on the Fender Rhodes, minor sounds from the Piano, and the relaxing
Violin sounds done by De Martini that starts off for the first minute and
twenty-three seconds. And then, all of a sudden, it becomes a dash towards the
door in the RIO format with a hyperactive beat in the styles of Aranis and not
to mention the electronic surroundings of the Mellotron coming right behind
you.
The midsection becomes a
dreamland soundscape as the duo goes into the other worlds that shows where the
listener can go into throughout the suspension of time before De Martini and
Holm-Lupo really go into the stages of the solo improvisations on their
instruments before landing in on the reprise for a closing section.
Pas a Pas is
a touch of the electronic and ambient surroundings that sounds like something
straight out of the sessions for Franco Battiato’s Fetus-era with some of the ominous backgrounds and futuristic
beauty coming into play while Induction
Magnetique goes into the tribute to the Canterbury sound of the golden era
of the late ‘60s/early ‘70s.
It starts off with an Organ
and Drums starting the introduction followed by the Bass and the Fuzztone
sounds that resembles Dave Stewart of Egg, Mike Ratledge of Soft Machine, and
Dave Sinclair of Caravan. And not to mention the background vocalizations,
which shows a touch of the whimsical scenery that gives it the perfect tribute
to the genre.
La Danse du Pantin is the ultimate psychedelic-prog trip featuring church-like organs,
ominous guitars, ascending organs, and starting back on the trip with a
dystopian amusement park like you haven’t seen before turned into madness with
a steady pulse. The 12-minute Escamotage starts
off with a mysterious tone between the keyboards, fuzz Bass, De Martini’s
haunting violin solo, guitar, and drums before going into the spacey voyages
resembling the sessions for Camel’s Moonmadness
as Fabrice pays tribute on his guitar playing to both Andy Latimer and
Robert Fripp.
It is also a chilled-out
composition that will take all the stress out at times, but they really go into
the stars and into our solar systems on here as the closer, Judith Coupeuse de Tete, is almost like
a final curtain call to tell the listener that they have one more to close it
off for the perfect slice of cake with the cherry on top.
Beginning with the Fender
Rhodes starting off with a magical and yet ascending tone thanks to the Organ
coming in that reminded me of something that Alco Frisbass could have scored
for Hayao Miyazaki’s Castle in the Sky. And
the melody between acoustic and electric guitar along with the drumming and organ
sets the mysticism groove of what mysteries and secrets tell in the flying
castle thanks to the synths and the mellotron closing it out for a round of
applause.
This is my third time
listening to Alco Frisbass’ debut and I have to say, I enjoyed it from start to
finish. The duo really brought a lot of inspirations and help from friends
along with the mastering done by Udi Koomran and the mixing by Paolo “SKE”
Botta which is a perfect combination, shows how much work and progress is done on here. I can’t wait to hear
more on what the future will be ready for both Fabrice “Chfab” Chouette and
Patrick “Paskinel” Dufour.
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