Parisian Christophe Marguet has recorded extensively but this is the first time he just uses strings to accompany his drums. Although the introductory track, L’Immensité, creates an atmospheric ambience, with a slightly Celtic leaning, it serves as a cover, as much of the music is basically fusion, the electronic veering into jazz-rock. The presence of Marguet ensures a firm-footing with imaginative rhythms, tangential excursions and an ability to pull the different strands into a unified structure.
The violin of Régis Huby and the guitar of Manu Codjia are often in unison, starting and finishing with formal themes, solos constructed within the framework. A rhythmically driven pulse is established through Marguet’s busily fragmented undercurrent blended with Hélène Labarrière’s deep and insistent bass. Vibrations follows this pattern, its melody briefly reminiscent of Ornette Coleman’s Lonely Woman.
Almost inevitably, given the instrumentation, there are classical elements, notably on the more experimental Rupture, plus texture building through the mesh of strings, but the resonance of Labarrière’s plucked bass and Marguet’s unobstructed drums serves as a balance, as does the occasional but effective Ponty-like riffing and scraping from Huby.
Several of the tracks have a chopped funk approach, again unison keeping it tight, but the electronics blur and fuse, taking it away from individual definition, violin and guitar merging into one another. Rock riffs appear elsewhere – on Thérapie, Magic Box and Mr. Steve, all grounded with a repetitive bass groove.
Codjia’s guitar solos shift from full chord to high register runs, taking a firm lead on En Équilibre and even utilising blues licks on Mr. Steve, whilst Huby’s tenor violin sounds cello-like on Entre Les Jours. But it’s Marguet’s contribution that impresses, whether busily exploring the full spectrum of his kit or producing vigorously energetic brushwork (Tango and En Équilibre).
The proceedings are wrapped up in a peaceful epilogic symmetry. The entourage bows and leaves the stage. Finis.
Discography
L’Immensité; Vibrations; Thérapie; Tango; En Équilibre; Entre Les jours; Magic Box; Rupture; Mr Steve; Song For Drums; L’Immensité (epilogue) (63.04)
Régis Huby (vn); Manu Codjia (g); Hélène Labarrière (b); Christophe Marguet (d). Amiens, October 2023.
Autre Distribution MESS004 CD
