Label: Out of Your Head Records, 2023
Personnel - Marc Ducret: electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitars, daxophone, percussion, prepared guitar, daf, chains, suitcase, voice, handclaps; Fabrice Martinez: trumpet, piccolo trumpet, flugelhorn, tuba; Sylvaine Hélary: alto flute; Chrstiane Bopp: trombone; Bruno Ducret: cello, voice, handclaps.
The intricate music of Tim Berne is not strange to French guitarist Marc Ducret, who, with years of experience under his belt, has been playing in several projects of the American saxophonist (Caos Totale, Big Satan, Science Friction, Snakeoil, Bloodcount) since 1990. Ducret is put in the limelight, interpreting eight recent Berne compositions along with French collaborators: his cellist son, Bruno Ducret, trumpeter/tubist Fabrice Martinez, flutist Sylvaine Hélary, and trombonist Chrstiane Bopp.
A mash-up of three numbers - “Curls / Palm Sweat / Mirth of the Cool” - starts the proceedings with a nervy proposition. The stereo distortion and sequential loops that emanate from Marc’s guitar are dark enough to please metalheads, and there’s also noise electrifying the obscure visions that come to our head. An abrupt reshaping and change of mood are achieved with slightly discrepant pitch-bending textures when the acoustic guitar becomes the choice to go on top of a fine percussion tapestry.
The folksy tone of the acoustic guitar is also heard on the two versions of “Rolled Oats”, placing us somewhere between an inscrutable dream and a logical certainty. The intermittent silences enhance the cello, and the contemplative mode doesn't need a drum kit to clutter things up. “Static” is a hypnotizing musical treat delineated with folk and modern creative (ir)resolution. The outstanding balance between tightness and relaxation is provided by trumpet, strings, vocal chants, long-form melodies, percussion, and a fluttering mystic motion with some bluesy inflections.
The shapeshifter “Shiteless 1” negotiates a thorny rhythmic structure, crosshatching with guitar layers of a different order and creating multi-tiered counterpoint. It veers from a sparkling optimism to an ominous dance that recalls Cabaret Voltaire. Colorful brass and woodwind sounds zigzag atop this rhythmic cadence, but the piece ends in a dour, ponderous continuum. Distinct while equally exploring timbres to a good effect, “Strutter Step” is initially foreboding as Marc discharges pressure over an intimidating substratum. Things simmer down half-way to incorporate nimble bass lines in consonance with acoustic guitar, a distorted electric guitar solo, and collective orchestral clarity.
This set of probing pieces comes to an end with Ducret’s sketchy explanation “About this Recording”. He may want to tell us how much he loves these compositions, how ingenious was his approach and how complex is his execution. All the same, his qualities remain unabated.
Favorite Tracks:
01 - Curls/Palm Sweat/Mirth of the Cool ► 03 - Shiteless 1 ► 08 - Static