AAVV
Century XXI - France 1
Fy 7011
Newtone Records
Francia
FRANCE is a new chapter of the CENTURY XXI series, a collection of CD dedicated to the new composer of the next century. The series began three years ago, with two volumes dedicated to American composers - Glenn Branca, Ben Neill, Carl Stone, Michael Gordon, a.o. - to continue with two volumes of British composers - Nyman, Fitkin, Martland, Gough, Peyton Jones, a.o. - now the new issue dedicated to French composers.
The CD, compiled by Bruno Letort, composer and host of a contemporary music program on Radio France, and Renzo Pognant, curator of the series, presents a spectrum of new composers whose musical interest s are very broad. The CD begins with a composition by LIMBORG, Caligola, who among his influences points out the names of Brian Eno and Dead Can Dance, surely with them he shares his love for mysterious and dark atmospheres. To continue with the four movements of Suite pour quatuor à cordes (et machineries diverses) by BRUNO LETORT, movements dedicated to Glenn Branca, Astor Piazzolla, Stephane Rodesco and Wim Wenders. Very melodic moments alternates with more abstract ones, classical sound with electronics.
The same performers, Procédé Rodesco - Letort, presents also the tracks by two other composers: Sécession by PHILIP LAURENT that evocates the avant-garde atmosphere of the Viennese revolution at the beginning of this century, and Pièces Froides by HECTOR ZAZOU. This is the transcription, for string ensemble, of songs originally released on Chansons des mers froides. Inspired by «Inuit» songs in this compositions Zazou mixes with skill sound and musical languages very different (Siberian melodies, Classical western string ensemble).
GILBERT ARTMAN, composers, drummers, but probably better known as director of URBAN SAX is another author included in the CD. With his dream, a large ensemble of saxophones (40, 50, 60 who knows!) that became reality almost twenty years ago, ARTMAN has presented over the world his dark, evocative ambience. Here with Perchman aux oreilles mouvantes we have, what weconsider, one of his best results. MARIN FAVRE, a composer with deep roots in classical music and strong interest in dance and theater, in Papa N'yaye with his ensemble «Maria Braun» presents a music balanced between compositions and improvisation.
The CD is completed by two tracks more clearly related to the Minimalism. A solo piano track, by FREDERIC LAGNAU, Ca va son dire, very lyrical and DOMENIQUE GRIMALDI's Reflux, a composition inspired both by Steve Reich's New York Counterpoint and the psychedelic rock of the sixties.
In this CD the curators have tried to present different musical worlds by artists that are looking for new ways to mix musical languages many times very far one from the other (Inuit songs, African rhythms, Balinese colors) or rooted in the same culture: classic, rock and jazz.