The possibility is now realised. France's avant mavericks return.
Regular readers of this blog, should they exist, may often wonder if it doesn't somehow have an identity problem. Well, yes and no. The music featured quite often falls into one of two seemingly unreconcilable camps. One which celebrates melodically memorable songwriting, harmonious, big on craft and tried and tested methods. The other is more experimental and prone to pushing boundaries or breaking them down. The truth is I tried to reflect this in the blog title – Harmonic Distortion. There's no reason why as music lovers we shouldn't love both of these approaches. With that in mind, the Toulouse-based group Aquaserge are something of a touchstone band for me, as they create work which is indeed melodically memorable, dynamic and fresh.
So I'm immensely pleased indeed that this month sees some released music by the mighty Aquaserge. Before we get round to the to the music, it's worth trying to pin down what it is that makes this group of musicians so special. I've written about the band before, having reviewed the live album déjà-vous? in print and prior to that penning a feature for Shindig! magazine centred around the release of their laisse ça être album. I remain as in awe of the ensemble today as I was when I first played the record. For anyone who's unfamiliar with the work, it's an audaciously playful album that has elements of classical, jazz, rock, third stream, post-punk, funk, European film soundtracks and more, though never in a derivative sense. The common thread that runs through all their work is improvisation, experimentation and well, fun actually.
A written synopsis of the new record gives little sense of how much fun the record is. The Possibility of a New Work for Aquaserge a tribute to the work and methodology of four 20th century composers working at the margins of experimental classical music, namely Giacinto Scelsi (1905-1988), György Ligeti (1923-2006), Edgard Varèse (1883-1965) and Morton Feldman (1926-1987). Here's a confession for you – I am neither familiar with the works of any of these composers, nor have I heard of any of them before. “Call yourself a music writer?!” I hear you cry. Well perhaps I was just listening to different records during my formative years. My guess is that most people who read this will be similarly unfamiliar with them too. And that's my point – it will in now way impact on your enjoyment of the music Aquaserge make.
Anyone who enjoys the dynamic and alchemy of musicians working together in common purpose will surely dig Possibility. The album is being released as part of Made To Measure, Crammed Discs' composers series. Originally started in the 1980s and dormant for over twenty years, the label has recently reactivated the imprint this year. Now expanded to a nine-piece Aquaserge honour the work of these composers, taking their ideas and methodology, expands them and add their own 21st century stamp. In this tussle between structure and improvisation, between seriousness and playfulness they manage to find a sweet and richly rewarding spot.
For this album Aquaserge are -
