Crammed Discs
AQUASERGE - Déjà-Vous? . CD
WIth its shades of French film music, psych rock & free jazz, the hyper-imaginative sound of experimental pop band Aquaserge takes on an even wilder dimension on stage, and they're viewed as one of today's most exciting live bands.
In the wake of last year's acclaimed Laisse ça être album, here's an opportunity to enjoy a slightly jazzier version of Aquaserge's tremendous live sound. Déjà-Vous? ('you, already?') was created from recordings made during several shows in 2016 and 2017, for which the band was augmented by the 3-piece horn section which plays with them on specific occasions. Déjà-Vous? contains live renditions of eight tracks: four from Laisse ça être, three from the band's previous releases, and an impromptu version of the jazz standard 'My Funny Valentine'. Most songs have been thoroughly rearranged for the occasion, and some of the pieces were used as source material for some interesting editing work, on the B-side of the LP.
A well-kept secret until recently, Aquaserge has been a subterranean driving force in the international music scene, inspiring and influencing many musicians. The band’s members have also been involved with Tame Impala, Stereolab, Melody's Echo Chamber, Aksak Maboul and Acid Mothers Temple.
In 2017, Aquaserge performed a large number of shows in more than ten countries (including appearances at festivals such as Le Guess Who?, Reeperbahn, Transmusicales, Liverpool Psych fest etc.
They'll be back this year for more tours around Europe (and possibly North America), and will appear at The Great Escape in Brighton on May 19.
Their latest studio album Laisse ça être appeared in 'Best of 2017' lists in The Quietus, Pulp Lab, Cast The Dice (UK), Libération, Magic, Benzine (FR), Projektor (PL), Radio 1/Wonderland (BE), Musikexpress (DE) & more
More details on the recordings: the four tracks from Laisse ça être were recorded at a benefit concert for the Tarnac Nine (whose trial is taking place in March), held in the Parisian suburb of Montreuil in November 2017. On that occasion, tenor sax player Robin Fincker was unavailable, so flautist Sylvaine Hélary (who has recently worked with Steve Coleman) joined Benjamin Kelchtermans (sax) and Sébastien Cirotteau (trumpet) in Aquaserge’s “optional” horn section. The other four tracks come from a French tour with the horn section, in early 2016.
Aquaserge’s core line-up consists of Benjamin Glibert (guitar & vocals), Julien Gasc (keys & vocals), Audrey Ginestet (bass & vocals), Manon Glibert (clarinets), and Julien Chamla (drums).
2018 © Crammed Discs - cram 282
#reviews: